Abstract
The size of pancreas was evaluated by ultrasound in a group of 60 children (30 males) and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus; the age ranged from 3 to 15 years and the duration of the disease from 1 to 13 years. Sixty sex- and age- matched healthy children were the controls (C). The children were divided into three groups: group A and AC, aged 3 to 7 years; group B and BC, aged 8 to 11 years; group C and CC, aged 12 to 15 years. We measured longitudinal and transverse diameters of the pancreatic head, body and tail and total area.
The area of the pancreas was significantly smaller in diabetic children of all the groups when compared with C (area, A vs AC: 8.3 ± 2.6 cm vs 10.1 ± 2.5, p < 0.05. B vs BC: 9.3 ± 3.6 vs 12.7 ± 4.5, p < 0.05. C vs CC: 8.1 ± 3.1 vs 14.8 ± 2.6, p < 0.005). The sum of the diameters was lower in the 3 groups of diabetics (A vs AC: 117.7 ± 22.2 mm vs 136.7 ± 14.8, p < 0.005. B vs BC: 117.4 ± 17.1 vs 144.7 ± 24.5, p < 0.002. C vs CC: 112.2 ±32.6 vs 163.6 ± 15.0, p < 0.01). Diabetic subjects with duration of disease < 2 yr had pancres size similar to that of children with duration of diabetes > 2 yr. (area 9.0 ± 3.6 cm2 vs. 8.4 ± 3.5, p > 0.05: sum of diameters 123.1 ± 20.9 mm vs 113.2 ± 21.6, p > 0.05). No difference was found among the three groups of diabetic children. Significant reduction of the size of pancreas was evident already after I year of disease. In diabetics the size of pancreas was significantly (p < 0.005) related to basal C-peptidc levels. In C area and diameters of pancreas were positively related (p < 0.001) to age, weight, height, waist and thigh circumference and the tickness of abdominal wall. In diabetic children no correlation was found.
In conclusion, the size of pancreas is significantly reduced in children with diabetes: furthermore, the disease interferes with the normal growth of the pancreas.
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Chiarelli, F., Altobelli, E., Verrotti, A. et al. 241 SIZE OF PANCREAS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS: A STUDY BASED ON ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION. Pediatr Res 36, 43 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00241
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00241