In ferrets, which condition is a pancreatic tumor that can cause hypoglycemia?

In ferrets, which condition is a pancreatic tumor that can cause hypoglycemia?

• A. Aleutian disease
• B. Insulinomas
• C. Aplastic anemia
• D. Lymphoma

Answer: (B)

Insulinomas are tumors of the pancreatic beta cells that secrete insulin. In ferrets, these tumors drive excess insulin production, causing hypoglycemia and symptoms like weakness, lethargy, tremors, or seizures. The other conditions listed are not pancreatic tumors producing insulin—Aleutian disease is a viral immune-mediated disease, aplastic anemia is bone marrow failure, and lymphoma is a common cancer but does not cause hypoglycemia through insulin overproduction. Therefore insulinomas best explain a pancreatic tumor-associated hypoglycemia in ferrets.

Insulinomas are tumors of the pancreatic beta cells that secrete insulin. In ferrets, these tumors drive excess insulin production, causing hypoglycemia and symptoms like weakness, lethargy, tremors, or seizures. The other conditions listed are not pancreatic tumors producing insulin—Aleutian disease is a viral immune-mediated disease, aplastic anemia is bone marrow failure, and lymphoma is a common cancer but does not cause hypoglycemia through insulin overproduction. Therefore insulinomas best explain a pancreatic tumor-associated hypoglycemia in ferrets.