Like pancreatic adenocarcinoma, islet cell tumors may cause abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Hormones released by an islet cell tumor can also cause symptoms that include:
- Insulinomas (excess insulin): sweating, anxiety, lightheadedness, and fainting from low blood sugar
- Glucagonomas (excess glucagon): diarrhea, excessive thirst or urination, weight loss
- Gastrinomas (excess gastrin): abdominal pain, stomach ulcers that can bleed, acid reflux, weight loss.
- Somatostatinomas (excess somatostatin): diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, foul-smelling fatty stools.
- VIPomas (excess vasoactive intestinal peptide): abdominal cramping, watery diarrhea, facial flushing.