Cystic fibrosis in adolescents and adults: fatty replacement of the pancreas--CT evaluation and functional correlation

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the computed tomographic (CT) features of pancreatic fatty replacement in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) with those in control subjects and to correlate the degree of fatty replacement with the functional status of the pancreas.

Materials and methods: CT scans in 15 patients with CF (group 1) and in 15 control subjects without CF (group 2) were evaluated for thickness and degree of pancreatic fatty replacement. Thickness was measured at four anatomic levels. The pattern of pancreatic fatty replacement was visually evaluated in four pancreatic regions. Images were semiquantitatively analyzed by two readers. The degree of fatty replacement was correlated with the functional status of the pancreas.

Results: In group 1, pancreatic glandular tissue was significantly thinner (P < .001) and the degree of fatty replacement was significantly greater in the four regions (P < .001) than those in group 2. In Group 1, no relationship was found between the degree of pancreatic fatty replacement and that of pancreatic endocrine dysfunction. A significant relationship was found between the degree of fatty replacement and that of pancreatic exocrine dysfunction (P < .001).

Conclusion: In patients with CF, pancreatic glandular tissue is significantly reduced in size. Pancreatic fatty replacement is the most frequent pattern in older patients with CF and correlates with pancreatic exocrine dysfunction.