What is the best treatment for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Medications known as proton pump inhibitors are the first line of treatment. These are effective medications for decreasing acid production in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Proton pump inhibitors are powerful drugs that reduce acid by blocking the action of the tiny “pumps” within acid-secreting cells.
What percentage of Zollinger-Ellison is malignant?
Approximately 25% to 30% of ZES patients also have a genetic (inherited) disorder known as “multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1,” which also causes tumors in the pituitary and parathyroid glands. Another complication of ZES is that more than half of single gastrinomas are malignant (cancerous).
What is the characteristic of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare digestive disorder that results in too much gastric acid. This excess gastric acid can cause peptic ulcers in your stomach and intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea. If left untreated, there can be serious complications.
What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome ZES?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare condition in which one or more tumors form in your pancreas or the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum). These tumors, called gastrinomas, secrete large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which causes your stomach to produce too much acid.
Is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome curable?
The condition can be cured if the gastrinoma is successfully removed with surgery. If surgery is not possible, in some cases Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can be managed medically. People with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can live active lives for many years after diagnosis.
When should you suspect Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
A medical professional may suspect Zollinger-Ellison syndrome if blood drawn after the infusion shows an elevated gastrin level. Once a diagnosis is made, localizing the tumor is important. Most Gastrinoma are small lesions and therefore, localizing the tumor may be difficult.
Can you cure Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Doctors may recommend surgery to remove the tumors that cause Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in people who don’t have MEN1. In some cases, removing the gastrinomas will cure Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and prevent the tumors from spreading to other parts of the body.
When do you suspect ZES?
In order to be diagnosed with ZES, the patient must exhibit an acidic environment with a pH less than 2 and an inappropriate release of gastrin with a basal acid output greater than 15 mEq/h (or > 5 mEq/h in a patient with prior acid reduction surgery).
Can Zollinger-Ellison syndrome be cured?
The condition can be cured if the gastrinoma is successfully removed with surgery. If surgery is not possible, in some cases Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can be managed medically.