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. 2025 Aug 1;14(15):5414.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14155414.

Fetal Pancreatic Circumference as a Predictor of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus During 75 g OGTT

Mehmet Can Keven  1 , Ece Aydoğdu  2 , Banu Derim Yeğen  2 , Ebru Yucel  3 , Zafer Bütün  4 , Atakan Tanaçan  5
Affiliations

Fetal Pancreatic Circumference as a Predictor of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus During 75 g OGTT

Mehmet Can Keven et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the simultaneous 75 g Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and fetal pancreatic circumference at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted between September 2024 and February 2025 at our perinatology clinic, which provides tertiary health care services. The correlation between the 75 g OGTT, GDM, and pancreatic circumference was assessed by comparing fetal pancreatic circumference between the groups with and without GDM at the time of diagnosis. Results: A total of 130 pregnant patients were recruited for this` study, with 64 patients forming the GDM group and 66 patients forming the control group. Fetal pancreas circumference (7.0 cm vs. 6.4 cm, p < 0.001), fetal pancreas circumference percentile (88.5 vs. 52, p < 0.001), and the rate of fetal pancreas size >90th percentile (15.6% vs. 3%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the GDM group compared to the control group. Conclusions: Although our findings demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between fetal pancreatic circumference and GDM, diagnostic performance remains modest. Therefore, fetal pancreatic circumference should be interpreted as a supportive marker, such as family history, rather than a definitive marker for identifying individuals at risk for GDM.

Keywords: 75 g oral glucose tolerance test; fetal pancreas circumference; fetal pancreas circumference percentile; gestational diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gray scale ultrasound showing fetal pancreas circumference with dotted lines. The pancreas is seen as a slightly echogenic structure behind the stomach, anterior to the left kidney, aorta, vena cava superior and vertebral spine, and extending to the gallbladder on the right.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ROC curve for predicting GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) via fetal pancreas circumference and fetal pancreas circumference percentile. (green line: fetal pancreas circumference percentile, blue line: fetal pancreas circumference).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of model coefficients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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