Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

CT differentiation of distal pancreas fat replacement and distal pancreas agenesis

  • Medical Imaging
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We aimed to describe CT signs useful for differentiation of distal agenesis from distal or dorsal pancreas lipomatosis. Multidetector CT (MDCT) studies of five patients with distal pancreas agenesis (n = 2), distal lipomatosis (n = 1), distal short pancreas (n = 1), and distal pancreatectomy (n = 1) were retrospectively reviewed. Agenesis of dorsal pancreas can be diagnosed by the absence of body and tail of pancreas. In the absence of distal pancreas, distal pancreatic bed can be filled by stomach or intestine (dependent stomach or dependent intestine signs), which abut splenic vein. Same findings can be seen in patients with distal pancreatectomy, however, splenic vein is absent in these patients. In case of distal lipomatosis abundant fat tissue is observed anterior to splenic vein. Dependent stomach and/or dependent intestine signs on MDCT imaging can allow differentiation of distal pancreas agenesis from distal lipomatosis obviating further diagnostic studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baek SY, Lee SC, Kim MY et al (1992) CT findings of pancreas lipomatosis and associated diseases. J Kor Radiol Soc 28:749–753

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cohen DJ, Fagelman D (1986) Pancreas islets cell carcinoma with complete fatty replacement: CT characteristics. J Comput Assist Tomogr 10:1050–1051

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eriguchi N, Aoyagi S, Hara M (2000) Insulinoma occurring in association with fatty replacement of unknown etiology in the pancreas: report of a case. Surg Today 30:937–941

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gold RP (1993) Agenesis of dorsal pancreas with ventral hypertrophy. Abdom Imaging 18:141–144

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Harrison KA, Thaler J, Pfaff SL, Gu H, Kehrl JH (1999) Pancreas dorsal lobe agenesis and abnormal islets of Langerhans in Hlxb9-deficient mice. Nat Genet 23:71–75

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Li H, Arber S, Jessell TM, Edlund H (1999) Selective agenesis of the dorsal pancreas in mice lacking homeobox gene Hlxb9. Nat Genet 23:67–70

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Macari M, Giovanniello G, Blair L, Krinsky G (1998) Diagnosis of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas with MR pancreatography. Am J Roentgenol 170:144–146

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Maeda H (1986) Ductal and vascular factors in etiology of experimentally induced pancreatic fibrosis and fat replacement in dogs. Jpn J Gastroenterol 83:2580–2587

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsumoto S, Mori H, Miyake H et al (1995) Uneven fatty replacement of the pancreas: evaluation with CT. Radiology 194:453–458

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Nonent M, Linard J, Leveque E, Larroche P, Bobeuf J, Senecail B (2003) Dorsal pancreas agenesis: computed tomography appearance with three-dimensional volume rendering reconstruction. Surg Radiol Anat 25:161–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Oldenburg B, van Leeuwen MS, van Berge Henegouwen GP, Koningsberger JC (1998) Pancreatitis and agenesis of the dorsal pancreas. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 10:887–889

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Park CM, Han JK, Kim TK, Choi BI (2000) Fat replacement with absence of acinar and distal ductal structure in the pancreatic body and tail. J Comput Assist Tomogr 24:893–895

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Patel S, Bellon EM, Haaga J et al (1980) Fat replacement of the exocrine pancreas. Am J Roentgenol 135:843–845

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shah KK, DeRidder PH, Schwab RE et al (1987) CT diagnosis of dorsal pancreas agenesis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 11:170–171

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Soler R, Rodriguez E, Comesana ML, Pombo F, Marini M (1992) Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas with polysplenia syndrome: CT features. J Comput Assist Tomogr 16:921–923

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Suda K, Matsumoto Y, Fujii H, Miura K, Nobukawa B (1998) Clinicopathologic differentiation of atrophy of the pancreatic body and tail aplasia. Int J Pancreatol 24:227–235

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Watanabe S, Abe K, Anbo Y et al (1995) Changes in the mouse exocrine pancreas after pancreatic duct ligation: a qualitative and quantitative histological study. Arch Histol Cytol 58:365–374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wildling R, Schnedl WJ, Reisinger EC et al (1993) Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas in a woman with diabetes mellitus and in both of her sons. Gastroenterology 104:1182–1186

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, 06100, Turkey

    Musturay Karcaaltincaba

Authors
  1. Musturay Karcaaltincaba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Musturay Karcaaltincaba.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karcaaltincaba, M. CT differentiation of distal pancreas fat replacement and distal pancreas agenesis. Surg Radiol Anat 28, 637–641 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-006-0151-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-006-0151-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation