SIZE OF PANCREAS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE-I (INSULIN-DEPENDENT) DIABETES

Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of insuli n-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on the size of the pancreas in ch ildren. Methods, Pancreas size was evaluated sonographically in a grou p of 60 diabetic children and adolescents, aged 3-15 years, and 60 sex - and age-matched healthy controls. Results. A significant reduction i n pancreatic area and other parameters was found in diabetic patients, particularly in children aged 8-12 and 13-15 years. The pancreas was larger in children 3-7 years old who had had IDDM for 2 years of less (mean size, 8.61 cm(2)) than in children 8-12 and 13-15 years old who had had IDDM for more than 5 years (mean size, 8.06 and 8.40 cm(2), re spectively). An inverse correlation between area of the pancreas and d uration of IDDM was seen in all age groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Di abetes affects the growth of the pancreas in children with IDDM, Sonog raphy can be used to noninvasively evaluate the influence of the disea se on pancreas size. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.