Fatty Pancreas: Disease or Finding?

Despite a growing number of investigative studies on pancreatic fat deposition, there remains no clear indication regarding the clinical relevance of fat infiltration in the pancreas, also called fatty pancreas (FP). An individual's body weight is correlated with their pancreatic weight. Moreover, lipid infiltration causes disorders that compromise not only morphology but also metabolic functions. Fat infiltration leads to insulin resistance, type II diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic cancer; however, knowledge about pancreatic fat content and aspects related to the clinical profile remains unclear in the literature. The present review describes the current knowledge of FP, including its pathophysiology and clinical implications, as well as lifestyle changes in FP.

Automated summary

Despite increasing research on pancreatic fat deposition, the clinical relevance of fatty pancreas remains unclear. Body weight is correlated with pancreatic weight, and lipid infiltration can cause disorders affecting morphology and metabolic functions. Understanding of pancreatic fat content and its association with clinical profiles is still limited.