AGE-DEPENDENT DECLINE IN PARENCHYMAL PERFUSION IN THE NORMAL HUMAN PANCREAS - MEASUREMENT BY DYNAMIC COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY

Parenchymal perfusion of the normal human pancreas using dynamic compu ted tomography (CT) was evaluated and correlated with patient demograp hic characteristics. The results of 23 patients (10 men and 13 women; age range, 25-71 years) who underwent enhanced CT of the upper abdomen and perfusion measurement were retrospectively reviewed. They had no evidence of pancreatic disease or diffuse liver disease, clinically or radiographically, Regions of interest were drawn in the pancreatic bo dy and within the aorta. Pancreatic parenchymal perfusion per volume w as then calculated by dividing the peak gradient of the pancreatic tim e-attenuation curve by the peak aortic CT number in increase. Perfusio n in these pa tients ranged from 0.554 to 1.698 ml min(-1) ml(-1) (mea n +/- SD, 0.963 +/- 0.064) and showed a negative correlation with the patient's age (r = 0.699, p < 0.0005). Pancreatic parenchymal density before contrast material injection (mean +/- SD, 48.86 +/- 0.978) was not correlated with perfusion measured by dynamic CT or age. No differ ences were observed in perfusion or density between men and women. In conclusion, parenchymal perfusion of the normal human pancreas measure d by dynamic CT appears to decline with age.