HYPOECHOGENIC EMBRYOLOGIC VENTRAL ASPECT OF THE HEAD AND UNCINATE PROCESS OF THE PANCREAS - IN-VITRO CORRELATION OF US WITH HISTOPATHOLOGICFINDINGS

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hypothesis that hypoechogenicity of the embry ologic ventral aspect of the head of the pancreas is due to diminished fat content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound and histopathologic fi ndings in 13 pancreatic autopsy specimens were compared, and the preva lence of areas of hyperattenuation of the embryologic ventral aspect o f the head of the pancreas at computed tomography (CT) was studied. RE SULTS: In vitro examination of pancreatic autopsy specimens showed thi s variant in seven (54%) of the 13 specimens, and histopathologic corr elation confirmed that there is diminished fat content corresponding t o the hypoechoic portion of the head of the pancreas. This difference in attenuation was visible on 21 (22%) of 96 CT scans. There was a sta tistically significant (P < .05, r = .212) increase in the prevalence of this finding with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Hypoechogenicity of t he embryologic ventral aspect of the head of the pancreas is due to di minished fat content. This difference in attenuation is also commonly seen on CT scans.