Treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 11; no. 35; pp. 5423 - 5432
• Main Authors: Tomassetti, Paola, Campana, Davide, Piscitelli, Lydia, Mazzotta, Elena, Brocchi, Emilio, Pezzilli, Raffaele, Corinaldesi, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Italy 21.09.2005; Baishideng Publishing Group Inc
• Subjects: Antacids - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; Helicobacter pylori - pathogenicity; Histamine H2 Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; Interferons - therapeutic use; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 - complications; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Review; Somatostatin - analogs & derivatives; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome - complications; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome - diagnosis; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome - etiology; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome - therapy; Somatostatin analogs; Proton pump inhibitors; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome; MEN 1; Gastrinoma; Chemoembolization
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i35.5423

In this article, we have reviewed the main therapeutic measures for the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). Review of the literature was based on computer searches (Pub-Med, Index Medicus) and personal experiences. We have evaluated all the measures now available for treating patients with sporadic gastrinomas or gastrinomas associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1, (MEN 1) including medical therapy such as antisecretory drugs and somatostatin analogs (SST), chemotherapy and chemoembolization, and surgical procedures. In ZES patients, the best therapeutic procedure is surgery which, if radical, can be curative. Medical treatment can be the best palliative therapy and should be used, when possible, in association with surgery, in a multimodal therapeutic approach.