What is the most common type of islet cell tumor that is typically benign?

Insulinomas are the most common type of islet cell tumors and are predominantly benign. These tumors arise from the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and are typically small, solitary lesions that can often be found in the pancreatic tail.

The benign nature of insulinomas means they are less likely to metastasize compared to other types of islet cell tumors, which makes surgical resection often curative. Symptoms are primarily a result of excess insulin production, leading to recurrent hypoglycemia. As insulinomas frequently occur in individuals in their 40s to 60s and are characterized by the classic Whipple's triad—hypoglycemic symptoms, low plasma glucose levels, and relief of symptoms with glucose administration—this aligns well with the clinical presentation of the condition.

In contrast, other types of islet cell tumors, such as gastrinomas (which secrete gastrin and can lead to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome), glucagonomas (which can lead to diabetes and a characteristic rash), and VIPomas (which can cause VIP syndrome, characterized by severe diarrhea), are less common and have different clinical implications, often with malignant potential. Thus, the prevalence and benign nature of insulinomas set them apart as the most