Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) may not cause early symptoms, especially if the tumor is nonfunctioning. When symptoms do occur, they can be caused by the growth of the tumor, by hormones the tumor makes, or by other conditions. Some tumors may not ever cause signs or symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of nonfunctional pancreatic NETs
Nonfunctional pancreatic NETs may grow for a long time without causing signs or symptoms. After the tumor has grown large or spread to other parts of the body, it may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- weight loss
- nausea and vomiting
- a lump in the abdomen
- pain in the abdomen or back
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Signs and symptoms of functional pancreatic NETs
The signs and symptoms of functional pancreatic NETs depend on the type of hormone being made, so they are different for each type of functional tumor.
Gastrinoma symptoms
Gastrinomas can cause the stomach to overproduce acid, which leads to stomach ulcers and diarrhea, also called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Stomach ulcers can cause abdominal pain, heartburn, reflux, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Insulinoma symptoms
Insulinomas can lower the body’s blood sugar levels. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, hunger, blurred vision, headache, lightheadedness, fatigue, weakness, shakiness, nervousness, irritability, or confusion. Insulinomas may also cause rapid heartbeat.
Glucagonoma symptoms
Glucagonomas can increase the body’s blood sugar levels and cause diabetes. Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, dry skin and mouth, hunger, thirst, headaches, fatigue, or weakness.
Some people with glucagonomas will also experience a rash on the groin, buttocks, face, or legs. The rash is called necrolytic migratory erythema, and it may blister, swell, and crust and may move to different places on the body.
Glucagonomas can also cause diarrhea, weight loss, sore tongue or sores at the corners of the mouth, and anemia. Sometimes, glucagonomas form blood clots in the lung, causing shortness of breath, cough, or chest pain. Clots may also form in the arms or legs, causing pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in the arm or leg.
VIPoma symptoms
VIPomas cause the body to overproduce vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) leading to severe, watery diarrhea. Severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, abdominal pain, and cramps. Other symptoms include weight loss, flushing of the face and neck, nausea, and vomiting.
Somatostatinoma symptoms
Somatostatinomas can cause a variety of symptoms including abdominal pain with severe cramping, diarrhea, foul-smelling stool that floats (steatorrhea), gallstones, and weight loss. They can also increase the body’s blood sugar levels, causing headaches, frequent urination, dry skin and mouth, hunger, thirst, fatigue, or weakness.