Rare tumor - insulinoma mimicking dissociative disorder

• Published in: Indian journal of psychiatry Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 331 - 332
• Main Authors: Agarwal, Supriya, Saxena, Kaveri, Dhami, Abhinav
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mysore Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-05-2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
• Subjects: Computed tomography; Consciousness; Convulsions & seizures; Dissociative disorders; Fecal incontinence; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Insulinoma; Letters to Editor; Medical imaging; Medical personnel; Mimicry; Neuroendocrine tumors; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Professionals; Tumors
• ISSN: 0019-5545; 1998-3794
• DOI: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_129_19

Detailed history revealed multiple episodes of unconsciousness over the past 2 years, episodes lasting few minutes to hours but no specific frequency of occurrence and not associated with frothing, urinary/fecal incontinence, tongue bite, or confusional state. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a well-defined soft-tissue lesion (41 mm × 32 mm) from the pancreatic tail. Any symptom not proportionate to the stressor or recurrence of symptoms even with appropriate management should raise a suspicion to rule out organic causes. Since a psychiatrist may be the primary medical professionals attending to such cases, it is important that they also have the knowledge about this rare disorder and its presentations.