ABSTRACT
Studies have shown some reduction in the pancreatic dimensions of patients with long-standing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). However, in a few studies regarding the patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), there are discordance of pancreatic size related to differences in the duration of diabetes, age and sex. The aim of this study is to make an ultrasonographical analysis of the pancreatic size and structure in IDDM and NIDDM patients, compared with healthy control group. The mean±SD age was 48.06±10.74, 24.40±9.56, and 55.84±12.30 years for 30 control subjects (15 men and 15 women), 30 IDDM patients (16 men and 14 women), and 44 NIDDM patients (21 men and 23 women), respectively. The body mass index (BMI) for the control subjects, IDDM patients and NIDDM patients were 25.86±4.99 kg/m2, 21.66±1.84 kg/m2, 26.35±3.71 kg/m2, respectively. In the IDDM and NIDDM groups, the duration of diabetes were 7.86±10.2 years and 10.22±8.4 years, respectively. The patients were classified into three groups according to the duration of diabetes (group A under 2 years, group B between 2-10 years, and group C over 10 years) and BMI. The pancreatic size was studied according to the sex of the subjects. The pancreas echogenities of all subjects were also evaluated. Pancreatic diameters -head, body and tail- of the IDDM patients were significantly smaller than NIDDM patients in group A (p<0.0005, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), in group B (p<0.0005, p<0.0001, p<0.0005, respectively) and, in group C (p<0.000l, p<0.0005, p<0.0005, respectively). The size of the head of the pancreas was smaller in the control subjects and NIDDM patients (p<0.0005, p<0.0005, respectively) in both sexes. The size of the body (p<0.0001, p<0.0005) and tail (p<0.0005, p<0.0001) of the pancreas was smaller than NIDDM patients in both sexes. In the NIDDM group, only the head of pancreas was greater in women than in men for all 3 groups (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.05). The pancreatic sonogram was isoechoic in 87% of the control subjects, hyperechoic in 72% of the NIDDM patients, and hypoechoic in 73% of the IDDM patients. In conclusion, IDDM patients had smaller pancreatic sizes than NIDDM patients and control subjects. This shrinkage was related with the duration of diabetes. Pancreas was hyperechoic in the NIDDM patients.
Studies have shown some reduction in the pancreatic dimensions of patients with long-standing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). However, in a few studies regarding the patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), there are discordance of pancreatic size related to differences in the duration of diabetes, age and sex. The aim of this study is to make an ultrasonographical analysis of the pancreatic size and structure in IDDM and NIDDM patients, compared with healthy control group. The mean±SD age was 48.06±10.74, 24.40±9.56, and 55.84±12.30 years for 30 control subjects (15 men and 15 women), 30 IDDM patients (16 men and 14 women), and 44 NIDDM patients (21 men and 23 women), respectively. The body mass index (BMI) for the control subjects, IDDM patients and NIDDM patients were 25.86±4.99 kg/m2, 21.66±1.84 kg/m2, 26.35±3.71 kg/m2, respectively. In the IDDM and NIDDM groups, the duration of diabetes were 7.86±10.2 years and 10.22±8.4 years, respectively. The patients were classified into three groups according to the duration of diabetes (group A under 2 years, group B between 2-10 years, and group C over 10 years) and BMI. The pancreatic size was studied according to the sex of the subjects. The pancreas echogenities of all subjects were also evaluated. Pancreatic diameters -head, body and tail- of the IDDM patients were significantly smaller than NIDDM patients in group A (p<0.0005, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), in group B (p<0.0005, p<0.0001, p<0.0005, respectively) and, in group C (p<0.000l, p<0.0005, p<0.0005, respectively). The size of the head of the pancreas was smaller in the control subjects and NIDDM patients (p<0.0005, p<0.0005, respectively) in both sexes. The size of the body (p<0.0001, p<0.0005) and tail (p<0.0005, p<0.0001) of the pancreas was smaller than NIDDM patients in both sexes. In the NIDDM group, only the head of pancreas was greater in women than in men for all 3 groups (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.05). The pancreatic sonogram was isoechoic in 87% of the control subjects, hyperechoic in 72% of the NIDDM patients, and hypoechoic in 73% of the IDDM patients. In conclusion, IDDM patients had smaller pancreatic sizes than NIDDM patients and control subjects. This shrinkage was related with the duration of diabetes. Pancreas was hyperechoic in the NIDDM patients.