Age‐related Changes in the Ultrasound Appearance of the Normal Feline Pancreas

Abstract

In humans, pancreatic hyperechogenicity and duct dilation are reported as normal aging changes. Similar changes have been reported with pancreatitis in the cat. We attempted to determine if aging changes occur in the ultrasound appearance of the normal feline pancreas. The pancreas of 84 normal (based on history, physical exam, biochemical profile, and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations) cats of varying ages was scanned. Pancreatic width at the left limb and body, pancreatic duct diameter at left limb and body, and pancreatic echogenicity compared with liver and surrounding fat were noted and compared with age and body weight. Lower and upper limits of the 95% reference intervals for pancreatic left limb width were 2.6 and 9.5 mm, and 3.5 and 8.5 mm for the pancreatic body width. There was no significant difference in pancreatic width between the left limb and body. Lower and upper limits of the 95% reference interval for the diameter of the pancreatic duct at the left limb and body were similar, and were 0.65 and 2.5 mm. There was a weak but significant linear correlation between pancreatic duct diameter and age, with increasing pancreatic duct diameter with increasing age. There was no correlation of pancreatic width with age, and no correlation of pancreatic echogenicity with age or body weight. Based on this study, feline pancreatic size and echogenicity do not change with age. Pancreatic duct diameter increases slightly with age and should not be used as a sole indicator of pancreatitis in the geriatric cat.

Comparative Ultrasonographic, Anatomotopographic and Macromorphometric Study of the Spleen and Pancreas in Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

“…In comparison to the research from Etue et al (2001), Heicht et al (2006), Heicht and Henry (2007) and Larson et al (2005), done on quantitative ultrasonograhic characteristics of the pancreas in healthy dogs and cats, the results aren't commented depending upon the physiological status of the studied animals. standard deviation of 0.11 mm.…”

“…The quantitative ultrasonographic characteristics of the pancreas in healthy dogs and cats are studied (Etue et al, 2001;Heicht et al, 2006;Heicht and Henry, 2007;Larson et al, 2005). There were comparative data obtained for the three lobes of the gland and for the width of the pancreatic duct, depending on the age and physiological status.…”

Ultrasonographic Findings of the Pancreas in Cats with Elevated Serum Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity

“…Measurements were taken from the best-defined image for each pancreas with measurements >1 cm considered abnormal. 13,20 Pancreatic margination was subjectively divided into three grades where Grade 1 corresponded to a smooth and linear pancreatic margin. Grade 2 corresponded to a pancreas with mild undulations in its margin, and severe irregularity to the pancreatic margin was classified as Grade 3.…”

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR cholangiopancreatography findings in cats with cholangitis and pancreatitis

“…Half of the cats had pancreatic duct diameters that exceeded the normal reported value of up to 2.5 mm. 23,29 After secretin, the pancreatic duct mildly dilated in 8/10 cats. The two remaining cats' pancreatic ducts did not dilate further post-secretin; these cats had the largest pancreatic duct diameters and had pancreatic cysts.…”

“…Ductal dilation is not specific in cats with pancreatitis because agerelated pancreatic duct dilation has also been identified in older cats. 23,29 All of the cats in this study were over 10 years of age, so some pancreatic duct dilation may have been due to age-related changes in addition to the pancreatic inflammation.…”