Abstract
Introduction: Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is the fatty replacement of pancreatic parenchyma, being often associated with obesity and aging. Similar to this condition in pancreas, any excessive lipidic deposition in the liver tissue are referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Objective: The objective of this study was to explore associations between PS and the NAFLD grade, as evaluated by ultrasonography. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Diagnosis of the PS and NAFLD was based on ultrasound findings, and 576 ultrasonography exams were evaluated. The chi-square test was used for evaluation of the relationship between PS and NAFLD. Results: A total of 576 individuals were included, 217 (or 37.7%) were male and 359 (or 62.3%) were female. The median age of the patients was 47.04 (11.8) years-old (mean ± standard error). Among them, 243 were diagnosed with PS and 245 were diagnosed with NAFLD according to the trans-abdominal ultrasound findings. There was an association between male sex and PS (P 0.012), and between female sex and NAFLD (P 0.0001). As compared to the normal group, the PS and NAFLD group was characterized by a significantly higher median age. There was also a statistically significant association between the degree of PS and the degree of NAFLD, with the following characteristics: mild PS and mild NAFLD (P 0.0001), moderate PS and moderate and severe NAFLD (P 0.0001) and between severe PS and moderate and severe NAFLD (P 0.0001). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that fat accumulation in pancreas is significantly correlated to NAFLD. It was also shown that the ultrasound is very resourceful when it comes evaluation of fat grade.
Highlights
Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is the fatty replacement of pancreatic parenchyma, being often associated with obesity and aging
The PS is a fatty replacement of pancreatic parenchyma, being often associated with obesity and aging.(3) The PS is generally a diffuse process occurring uniformly, but may be unevenly distributed in the pancreas and can be confined to region of the pancreas, being classified as: type 1a: preferential fatty replacement of head; type 1b: preferential fatty replacement of head, neck and body; type 2a: preferential fatty replacement of head and uncinate process; type 2b: fatty replacement of most of pancreas regions except the peribiliary region.(4) Focal PS is a disorder without clinical significance
In this study, using ultrasonography that allows the non-invasive evaluation of PS and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was demonstrated that PS is common in patients with NAFLD, and the fatty infiltration of pancreas positively correlates with fatty infiltration of liver ultrasound-determined steatosis grade
Summary
Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is the fatty replacement of pancreatic parenchyma, being often associated with obesity and aging. The PS is a fatty replacement of pancreatic parenchyma, being often associated with obesity and aging.(3) The PS is generally a diffuse process occurring uniformly, but may be unevenly distributed in the pancreas and can be confined to region of the pancreas (focal fatty infiltration), being classified as: type 1a: preferential fatty replacement of head; type 1b: preferential fatty replacement of head, neck and body; type 2a: preferential fatty replacement of head and uncinate process; type 2b: fatty replacement of most of pancreas regions except the peribiliary region.(4) Focal PS is a disorder without clinical significance This condition may simulate a mass-like lesion. The NAFLD pathogenesis is still largely unknown, and the key factor in the pathophysiology of NAFLD is the insulin resistance that determines lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes.(6)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
