PANCREATIC ISCHEMIC LESIONS WITHOUT FAT NECROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION

We examined the primary ischaemic changes in the pancreas in 35 patien ts with disseminated intravascular coagulation. In 7 (20%), multiple p atchy lesions composed of degenerative acinar cells indicating coagula tion necrosis were noted. None of these lesions was accompanied by fat necrosis. The patchy lesions involved the islets of Langerhans in onl y 1 case. The interlobular arteries of the pancreas near these lesions contained fibrin thrombi in all 7 cases. We suggest that these lesion s, without fat necrosis, are the distinctive ischaemic change associat ed with disseminated intravascular coagulation.