The Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas by Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Abstract

Objectives Pancreatic steatosis or fatty pancreas refers to the fat accumulation in the pancreas, which can lead to inflammation and fibrosis, β-cell dysfunction, fibrosis, and, possibly, pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to study the prevalence of fatty pancreas and its risk factors in patients referred to an endosonography center. Methods During 18 months, 228 patients who were referred to our endosonography center for various reasons were evaluated for fatty pancreas. Fatty pancreas was defined as hyperechoic pancreas echotexture compared with spleen echotexture. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, and laboratory measurements were compared between groups with and without fatty pancreas to determine the risk factors for fatty pancreas. Results The prevalence of fatty pancreas was 25.9%. Patients with fatty pancreas had a significantly higher mean level of uric acid (P = 0.04), frequency of ischemic heart disease (P = 0.03), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.04), frequency of fatty liver (P < 0.001), and aortic intima thickness (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, substance abuse, and use of oral contraceptives in the 2 groups. Conclusions Fatty pancreas is a common disorder. There are meaningful relationships between coronary artery disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver, and atherosclerosis with fatty pancreas.

Computed Tomography-Estimated Pancreatic Steatosis is Associated with Carotid Plaque in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study from China

“…7,8 Although several reports indicated the relationship between pancreatic steatosis measured by CT and atherosclerosis, most of them focused on arterial intima-media or intima thickness. 9,10 However, carotid plaque may provide more direct evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis than intimal thickness. In addition, predictive value of carotid plaque for cardiovascular adverse events may be higher than carotid intima-media thickness.…”

Hyperechoic pancreas on ultrasonography: an analysis of its severity and clinical implications

“…screening fatty pancreas due to its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and non-invasiveness (6,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The prevalence of fatty pancreas in previous studies varies widely from 8.5 to 61.4 % (12,14,17,(33)(34)(35), probably owing to insufficient evidence based on a widely accepted imaging modality or uncertainty regarding the subjective definition of an HP. Although some investigators have attempted the quantitative analysis of pancreatic echogenicity, the method is complicated and not generally accepted (36).…”

Evaluating Pancreatic index in Patients with and without Metabolic Syndrome

“…8 Fat accumulation inside the pancreatic islet cells disrupts the function of the pancreatic beta cells. 9 The prevalence of fatty pancreas is 16-35 % in the United States and Asia. 10,11 There is a significant relation between nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease (NAFPD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and also between these two and obesity.…”

“… 8 Fat accumulation inside the pancreatic islet cells disrupts the function of the pancreatic beta cells. 9 The prevalence of fatty pancreas is 16-35 % in the United States and Asia. 10 , 11 …”