Introduction
- Rare. No predilection to age or breed evident.
- Cause : functional malignant tumor of pancreatic islet cells that secretes gastrin.
- Signs : attributable to gastrin produced by tumor (hypergastrinemia) causing esophageal, gastric and duodenal ulceration leading to vomiting and diarrhea.
- Diagnosis : laparotomy and histopathology.
- Treatment : surgical excision + H2 blockers.
- Prognosis : poor >76% metastasize.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Abdominal pain.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Poor: highly malignant.
- Metastatic spread causes 76% cases to recur even after apparently successful surgery.
- Mean survival time of 5 months.
Expected response to treatment
- Stabilize condition on medical therapy.
- Cessation of vomiting.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Tumor metastasized at time of diagnosis.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed.
- Green R A & Gartrell C L (1997) Gastrinoma - a retrospective study of four cases (1985-1995). JAAHA 33 , 524-527.
- Zerbe C A & Washabau R J (1995) Gastrointestinal endocrine disease. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 4th edn. Eds S J Ettinger and E C Feldman. Philadelphia: Saunders.
- Happe et al(1980) Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in three dogs. Vet Pathol 17 , 177-186.




