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Zollinger–Ellison Syndrome: A Personal Perspective

The odyssey of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is one of the most interesting in surgery. From the initial recognition of two patients with severe peptic ulcer disease in 1955 sprung an international dialogue on this unique disease culminating in discovery that gastrin was the hormone secreted by these pancreatic and duodenal tumors. The impact was the birth of a new area of science, “gastrointestinal endocrinology.” Initially, surgeons were challenged by the complexity of the patients and the need to perform total gastrectomy to prevent death from complications of the severe ulcer disease. Later, after the discovery of proton pump inhibitors, total gastrectomy was no longer needed and the surgeon…

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 Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: Not Your Average Peptic Ulcer Disease

This chronic ulcerative disease can be debilitating, and even life-threatening, if not properly managed. Because its symptoms are often mistaken for GERD or masked by proton pump inhibitor use, knowing what to look for is key to making the diagnosis.

Articles of Interest

Gastrinoma and Zollinger Ellison syndrome: A roadmap for the management between new and old therapies

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) associated with pancreatic or duodenal gastrinoma is characterized by gastric acid hypersecretion, which typically leads to gastroesophageal reflux disease, recurrent peptic ulcers, and chronic diarrhea. As symptoms of ZES are nonspecific and overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders, the diagnosis is often delayed with an average time between the onset of symptoms and final diagnosis longer than 5 years.

The Zollinger–Ellison Syndrome: Dangers and Consequences of Interrupting Antisecretory Treatment

Patients with Zollinger–Ellison syndrome (ZES) are treated by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to protect them from severe and potentially lethal peptic complications related to massive gastric acid hypersecretion. We report here on the dangerous consequences of interrupting PPI therapy.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome Comes of Age Recognition of the Complete Clinical Spectrum and Its Management

The non-beta islet cell tumor of the pancreas is associated with a variety of clinical symptoms. These tumors as well as their metastases can produce a potent gastrinlike hormone responsible for marked gastric hypersecretion and a fulminating ulcer diathesis, with or without diarrhea. Less commonly, these tumors may be associated with a severe diarrhea in the absence of gastric hypersecretion or peptic ulceration.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome or ZES is a rare medical condition in which one or more tumors are developed in the pancreas or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). These tumors are referred to as gastrinomas. They are responsible for secreting high amounts of gastrin hormone which helps in digestion and breakdown of the consumed food. Due to the excessive release of this hormone, too much acid is produced, leading to various symptoms.

Resources

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a condition that occurs when one or more tumors NIH external link—called gastrinomas NIH external link, which are located mainly in your pancreas or duodenum—cause your stomach to make too much acid. Too much acid in your stomach can lead to symptoms, such as diarrhea, and health complications, including peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

StatPearls

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a group of symptoms comprised of severe peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic diarrhea caused by a gastrin-secreting tumor of the duodenum or pancreas (gastrinoma triangle) that results in increased stimulation of acid-secreting cells of the stomach. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome could impact the patient's quality of life and increase mortality if it is not recognized and treated.