Cystic fibrosis in adolescents and adults: Fatty replacement of the Pancreas - CT evaluation and functional correlation

PURPOSE: To compare the computed tomographic (CT) features of pancreatic fa tty replacement in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) with th ose in control subjects and to correlate the degree of fatty replacement wi th 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 degr ee 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 functiona l 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 relation ship was found between the degree of pancreatic fatty replacement and that of pancreatic endocrine dysfunction. A significant relationship was found b etween the degree of fatty replacement and that of pancreatic exocrine dysf unction (P < .001). CONCLUSION: In patients with CF, pancreatic glandular tissue is significant ly reduced in size. Pancreatic fatty replacement is the most frequent patte rn in older patients with CF and correlates with pancreatic exocrine dysfun ction.