Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.], cilt.21, ss.1017-1022, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Introduction: Normal pancreatic thickness values on ultrasound (US) have been defined in literature.
However, there is insufficient information about normal pancreatic measurements acquired from
computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To define normal pancreatic thickness
measurements acquired from different localizations in order to provide reference values for more
objectively identified parenchymal thickness changes.
Materials and methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of the abdominal MRI examinations of 162
pediatric patients. Patients with any pancreatic disease, or chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease
were excluded from the study. Measurements were taken from T2-weighted images.
Results: Evaluation was made of 162 children, comprising 82 (50.6%) males and 80 (49.3%) females with a
mean age of 9.8 ± 2.4 years. Mean pancreatic thickness was 18.3 ± 3.1 mm, 10.2 ± 2.9 mm, 14.9 ± 3 mm,
14.9 ± 3.3 mm in head, neck, body and tail localizations, accordingly. A positive correlation was determined between age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and pancreatic thickness in all the anatomic
localizations (r > 0.55, p < 0.05). No significant difference was determined with gender. Interobserver
agreement between two researchers was moderate and strong according to the different anatomic
localizations.
Conclusions: The defined normal ranges are mostly consistent with previously published US and CT
based values. Pancreatic thickness values were positively correlated with age, height, weight and BMI for
all four anatomical regions of the pancreas. Knowledge of normal pancreatic thickness values will increase the diagnostic accuracy of radiologists in the assessment of pancreatic diseases and may aid in
interpreting atrophy in the setting of chronic pancreatitis.
© 2021 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.