How Do You Diagnose Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome?
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is characterized by peptic ulcers caused by an excess secretion of gastric acid produced by gastric tumors. Gastrinomas are usually found in the duodenum but also may arise in the pancreas as non-beta islet cell tumors. Patients with Multiple Neuroendocrine Tumors are considered to fit the profile for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in up to 61 percent of cases. The following steps will show how to diagnose Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Observe severe abdominal pain due to peptic ulcers to be the most common presenting symptom of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. These ulcers are found in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract in 90 to 95 percent of these cases. Expect the second most common symptom of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome to be diarrhea, which occurs in up to 65 percent of all patients. This is because of mucosal damage caused by excess gastric acid, which also may cause steatorrhea. Examine the patient for abdominal tenderness or other signs of a perforated duodenu
