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The Clinical Implications of Fatty Pancreas: A Concise Review

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Abstract

Fatty pancreas is a newly recognized condition which is poorly investigated until today as compared to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It is characterized by pancreatic fat accumulation and subsequent development of pancreatic and metabolic complications. Association of fatty pancreas have been described with type 2 diabetes mellitus, acute and chronic pancreatitis and even pancreatic carcinoma. In this review article, we provide an update on clinical implications, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

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Abbreviations

FP:

Fatty pancreas

NAFLD:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

WHO:

World Health Organization

IL-6:

Interleukin 6

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis alpha

TG:

Triglycerides

NASH:

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

OGTT:

Oral glucose tolerance test

HOMA:

Homeostatic model assessment

NASP:

Nonalcoholic steato-pancreatitis

DM-T2:

Diabetes mellitus type 2

IL-1b:

Interleukin 1-beta

BMI:

Body mass index

USG:

Ultrasonography

EUS:

Endoscopic ultrasound

FNA/B:

Fine needle aspiration/biopsy

CT:

Computed tomography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, P.O.B. 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel

    Tawfik Khoury

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Advanced Endoscopy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Akwi W. Asombang, Tyler M. Berzin, Douglas K. Pleskow & Meir Mizrahi

  3. Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Dana 501, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Jonah Cohen

  4. Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Advanced Endoscopy, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA

    Meir Mizrahi

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Correspondence to Tawfik Khoury.

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Khoury, T., Asombang, A.W., Berzin, T.M. et al. The Clinical Implications of Fatty Pancreas: A Concise Review. Dig Dis Sci 62, 2658–2667 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-017-4700-1

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