Morphometric Analysis of Fetal Pancreas

Background: Pancreas is an important organ and it is the target of major diseases like pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, cystic fibrosis, pseudo-cysts, annular pancreas, neoplasm etc. The growth and development of fetal pancreas are influenced by the intra-uterine environmental and genetic factors, which can exert stimulatory or inhibitory effects. So, understanding the development of pancreas helps in planning new therapeutic strategies that help in reducing mortality, morbidity, preventing and curing of these conditions. Objectives: The present study on human fetal pancreas specimens of different gestational ages was conducted with the following objectives to observe the growth and development of pancreas in length, width and thickness in relation to gestational age. Methods: This work was conducted on 100 formalin preserved dead fetuses and they were of both sexes between 20 weeks to 40 weeks of gestational age. Results: The length of pancreas was found to be increasing with fetal age, with more increase during 33- 40 weeks. The width of pancreas was found to be increasing with fetal age, with more increase of width during 33- 40 weeks. The thickness of Pancreas was found to be increasing with fetal age with more increase during 33-40-weeks of gestation. Conclusion: In the present study pancreas was gradually increasing in length, width, thickness according to gestational age