Lipomatosis of the pancreas in autopsy material and its relation to age and overweight

Abstract

Lipomatosis, regarded as deposition of fat cells in the pancreas, was investigated and graded into four groups in 394 consecutive autopsies. In all necropsies except one fat cells were present; gr. 1:51%, gr. 2:26%, gr. 3:15% and gr. 4:8%. Age as well as overweight was significantly correlated to the grade of lipomatosis. The number of necropsies with gr. 3--4 lipomatosis was significantly less in the group with long terminal illnes, indicating that the presence of fat cells in the pancreas is to some extent reversible. No evidence of pancreatic disease was mentioned in the clinical records of the patients with gr. 3--4 lipomatosis.