With the widespread use of PPIs, the delay in diagnosis of
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome becomes an issue. Symptoms ofZollinger-Ellison syndrome are almost exclusively secondary
to effects of gastric acid hypersecretion.58 PPI use controls the
acid hypersecretion in virtually all patients with gastrinoma,59
suggesting that only those patients with refractory symptoms
will be diagnosed correctly. Support for this notion was provided
in a study indicating that since PPIs have been released,
fewer new patients with gastrinoma have been diagnosed and
fewer patients have been referred for workup, leading to the
conclusion that diagnosis of gastrinoma is often delayed and
patients are subsequently diagnosed at more advanced stages
in their disease course.59 Additional support for this hypothesis
comes from a study in which surgeons reported seeing
patients with more advanced gastrinoma disease when 5-year
cure rates are less likely.60 Physicians are therefore obligated
to maintain an index of suspicion for this disease in a patient
with prolonged symptoms being treated with PPIs.