Top Ichilov Clinic is among the best medical institutions in the country for the effectiveness of therapy for oncological diseases of the digestive system. Treatment of glucagonoma, a malignant neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas, is handled here by highly qualified specialists who rely on the latest advancements in oncology. The use of organ-preserving surgical techniques, the most modern medical equipment, and unique medications allows them to achieve high results in the fight against this rare type of cancer.
In more than half of the cases, treatment of glucagonoma in Israel, reviews of which confirm its effectiveness, results in complete recovery. If the disease is diagnosed at advanced stages and has become metastatic, Israeli doctors do everything possible to alleviate the patient's condition, prolong life, and significantly improve its quality.
Treatment methods for glucagonoma in Israel
Oncology specialists at Top Ichilov use the most modern methods for treating pancreatic cancer. Their choice is usually influenced by the tumor's structure, its location, and the extent of the malignant process.
Surgical intervention, which involves the operative removal of the pathological neoplasm, is the most effective way to combat glucagonoma – it significantly reduces the level of glucagon in the blood and achieves long-term remission. To reduce the trauma of the intervention and minimize the risk of postoperative complications, Israeli surgeons use laparoscopic techniques – where access to the organ being operated on is achieved through several tiny incisions. The effectiveness of such an intervention is higher than that of traditional surgery.
At Top Ichilov Clinic, various surgical techniques are used to remove neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Depending on the location of the glucagonoma (in the head, body, or tail of the organ), its size, and growth pattern (single or multiple), this may include:
- distal pancreatectomy – a procedure that involves the removal of the tail or body of the pancreas affected by the oncological process.
- pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as Whipple surgery. It is used when the tumor is located in the head of the gland and involves its removal along with part of the duodenum. In some cases, the common bile duct may also be resected.
- total pancreatectomy – a radical method that involves the complete removal of the pancreas affected by the malignant process. Israeli surgeons try to resort to this only in cases of extreme necessity – priority is always given to organ-preserving surgeries.
Radiation therapy, based on the effects of ionizing radiation, is also frequently used for the treatment of glucagonoma. It is most often applied in the pre- and postoperative periods: initially, to reduce the tumor size, making it more accessible for surgical removal, and afterward – to minimize the risk of recurrence by removing residual cancer cells.
Top Ichilov specialists use one of the most advanced types of radiation treatment – intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which allows for targeted radiation focusing performed under three-dimensional visual control.
Stereotactic radiosurgery – another modern type of radiation therapy that can be used as an alternative to surgical intervention, allowing for the treatment of glucagonoma without surgery in Israel. Its essence lies in the single targeted irradiation of the malignant neoplasm with a high dose of radiation. The procedure is performed using special equipment that allows for precise determination and fixation of the tumor's position, calculating the direction and power of ionizing radiation – and consequently delivering the required dose of radiation precisely within specified boundaries, without damaging healthy tissues.
Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer may be used when the tumor has spread beyond the organ and has become metastatic, forming secondary foci in neighboring organs, most often in the liver. Chemotherapeutic treatment of glucagonoma in Israel involves the use of special antitumor drugs that suppress the growth and division of cancer cells, allowing for the halting of metastasis spread and reducing the size of the malignant neoplasm.
Chemotherapy is also applied in cases of inoperable or recurrent tumors – in such cases, a combination of drugs is used to lower the level of immunoreactive glucagon, which helps regress symptoms and improves the well-being of a person with pancreatic cancer. At Top Ichilov Hospital, highly effective next-generation chemotherapeutic agents are used, which specifically target atypical cells and have no pronounced negative impact on the patient's body.
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Diagnosis of glucagonoma in Israel
The quality of diagnosis directly affects the effectiveness of treatment for pancreatic tumors. The high professionalism of diagnostic doctors working in the oncology department of Top Ichilov, the clinic's high-precision equipment, and the presence of its own laboratories allow for the examination of patients suspected of having glucagonoma at the highest level. A wide range of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods enables specialists to accurately determine the type and structure of the tumor, its location, and spread – and based on the examination results, develop the optimal treatment program for the patient.
Diagnosis of glucagonoma in Israel is conducted in three stages and usually takes no more than 3–5 working days, not including possible waiting for some laboratory results.
Stage 1: Consultation and examination by a specialist
Upon arriving in Israel and settling into a hotel, the patient immediately goes to the clinic for an appointment with the attending physician. The doctor listens to complaints, studies the medical history, and conducts a physical examination. Special attention is paid to the skin, where characteristic rashes for glucagonoma (so-called necrolytic migratory erythema) may be observed, and to the mucous membranes, which are often affected in this type of cancer. After this, the doctor develops a plan for further examination.
Stage 2: Comprehensive diagnostics
In the next stage, the patient undergoes all the diagnostic procedures assigned to them, which include:
- laboratory blood tests, including analysis for immunoreactive glucagon levels, glucose levels, and other indicators, as well as tests for tumor markers;
- computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography;
- X-ray contrast study of the pancreatic ducts;
- biopsy of the tumor with subsequent examination of the collected material;
- endoscopic ultrasound;
- selective angiography.
Stage 3: Approval of the treatment plan
Upon completion of the examination, a medical council is convened, consisting of doctors of various specialties – oncologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists, and other specialists, who discuss the diagnostic results in the presence of the patient and jointly develop the optimal therapy program for them, taking into account their condition and individual characteristics of the body.
Treatment of glucagonoma in Israel: cost
The price for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas depends on many factors, including the stage of the disease, the volume of diagnostic procedures, the complexity of the surgical intervention, the cost of the medications used, and others. Nevertheless, foreign patients choosing to treat glucagonoma in Israel find the prices surprisingly affordable: here they are at least 30% lower than in Western Europe and almost half of what they are in the USA.
The approximate cost of treatment can be learned by contacting a representative of Top Ichilov for a free consultation, while the final price will be known only after the examination and approval of the therapeutic strategy.
Why it is better to treat glucagonoma at Top Ichilov
- Innovative diagnostic and therapy methods.
- Highly qualified doctors with extensive experience, practicing according to the most modern standards.
- Latest medical equipment.
- Next-generation medications.
- Individual approach in developing the treatment program.
- Provision of a personal curator and full support for patients from abroad.