A rare case of hypoglycemia induced by a classic gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Abstract

Hypoglycemia, a frequently encountered medical emergency, is usually seen in patients with diabetes, most commonly as a result of iatrogenesis. However, it can also be encountered in nondiabetic patients. Various causes, such as pancreatic islet cell tumors producing insulin, primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency, advanced liver disease, pheochromocytoma and hypothyroidism, have been found to contribute to the condition in the nondiabetic population.1 In rare cases, an excessive production of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-2) – a condition known as nonislet cell tumor-induced hypoglycemia (NICTH) – has also been found to cause hypoglycemia. Hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia, with low IGF-1 levels and an IGF2-IgF1 ratio of greater than 10, is found to be suggestive of NICTH.