Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) patients presenting with hypoglycemic coma as chief manifestation and the related clinical experience in diagnosis and therapy.
Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 4 patients who were hospitalized because of recurrent hypoglycemic coma and diagnosed as having MEN1 by endocrinological, radiological and pathological examinations.
Results: In the 4 cases of Whipple trilogy, radiological examination showed occupying lesion in the pancreas and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. In 2 cases the insulinomas were multiple. In this series, one case was complicated with pituitary adenoma, parathyroidoma (recurrent after operation) and adrenocortical adenoma, one case with pituitary adenoma, parathyroidoma (2 tumors) and adrenal nodular hyperplasia, one case with pituitary adenoma and parathyroidoma, and the remaining one with pituitary adenoma and suspectible parathyroidoma.
Conclusions: For patients with insulinoma, MEN1 should be considered. In patients with MEN1, the presence of multiple or ectopic parathyroid adenomas (or hyperplasia) and insulinomas should be inspected during operation. After operation, examinations should be regularly performed to identify whether the diseases relapse or new endocrine neoplasias occur.