Pitfalls in Arteriography of Islet-Cell Tumors of the Pancreas

Selective visceral arteriography can be a significant aid in the diagnosis of and surgical approach to islet-cell tumors of the pancreas. Unfortunately, the characteristic vascular blush in the pancreatic region is neither specific nor always present. The cases presented, which either did simulate or could have simulated an islet-cell tumor, include an accessory spleen, hyper-plastic lymph node, focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver, chronic recurrent pancreatitis, and bleeding into a pancreatic pseudocyst.