Insulinoma is a rare and elusive, but the most common, curable endocrine tumour of the pancreas. The incidence is estimated at 4 cases per million-person years.1 The ability to localise the tumour accurately before or during surgery is an important factor in the management of these lesions. In the event of failed localisation, a blind pancreatic resection is no longer recommended. The development of sensitive radioimmunoassays to detect endogenous hyperinsulinaemia resulted in extensive investigations to localise the tumour preoperatively, in the belief that this would reduce morbidity from pancreatic exploration. These pre-operative tests included ultrasound scans (USS), computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), selective angiography, transhepatic portal venous sampling (THPVS), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), octreotide scans and calcium stimulation arteriography. There is a wide variation in the sensitivity of these tests and there is no clear consensus in the choice of these tests even amongst enthusiasts.2,3 Some believe that meticulous intra-operative exploration combined with intra-operative ultrasound (IOUS) has a higher sensitivity than pre-operative localisation tests. 4,5 We have reviewed our experience of these lesions to assess if pre-operative localisation tests are necessary and to formulate a rational management strategy for these lesions. Insulinoma is a rare, but curable, endocrine tumour. The ability to localise the tumour accurately before or during surgery is an important factor in the management of these elusive lesions, which has been extensively debated. We have reviewed our experience of these lesions to establish the role of localisation tests. SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice in diagnosing vestibular schwannoma (VS). Perceived high costs have prevented clinicians from using it as a screening investigation, although MR scanners are now widely available in the United Kingdon. In a retrospective study, the clinical records of all the patients who presented to the ENT department of Taunton and Someerset NHS Trust with suspected symptoms of VS during the year 1994 were analysed. The cost of confirming or refuting the diagnosis of VS in each patient ranged from £220.72 to £580.31 depending on the number of hospital visits and investigations performed. This study shows that the routine use of MR scanning for detection of VS is cost effective and more effective than the use of conventional tests.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a paediatric illness characterised by prolonged high fever, mucocutaneous lesions and lymphadenopathy. It is potentially fatal as coronary arteritis occurs in up to a third of affected children. We present a seven-year-old child who was admitted to hospital with neck pain and fever. Despite intravenous antibiotic therapy and a quinsy right tonsillectomy on the sixth day after admission, the patient's symptoms persisted. With the appearance of further signs and symptoms the diagnosis of KD was made two days after operation. The patient's symptoms resolved with aspirin and intravenous gammaglobulin therapy. A literature review of the various aspects of KD is presented.

This paper reports an undiagnosed diabetic presenting to an otolaryngologist with sudden deafness of six days duration as the only symptom. Appropriate investigative and treatment measures resulted in recovery of hearing.

A 47 year old woman presented with melaena and haemodynamic instability. Preliminary investigations failed to locate the source of bleeding. At laparotomy an arteriovenous malformation was identified in the distal ileum. Histology revealed this to be of the Dieulafoy type. This is the first published case of a histologically proved ileal Dieulafoy lesion in an adult. (Postgrad Med J 2001;77:783-784)