Fatty pancreas disease: Clinical impact

Abstract

Pancreatic steatosis is the name for a state characterized by an increased accumulation of fat in the pancreas. It is most frequently due to obesity and the metabolic syndrome, other etiological factors may include some congenital syndromes, toxic substances or viral diseases. Diagnostics is based on non-invasive imaging methods. The most accessible is abdominal ultrasound, also endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can be used. In clinical practice, pancreatic steatosis is in particular significant because of its close association with type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. The disorder may aggravate the burden of acute pancreatitis, examined is its relationship to pancreatic cancer. Significant are also surgical reports on complications after pancreatic surgeries on individuals with pancreatic steatosis.