Abnormalities of the Pancreas in IDDM and NIDDM Patients

OBJECTIVE — To evaluate the relationship between the type and duration of diabetes and pancreas size by ultrasonography. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — Pancreas images of 40 IDDM and 36 NIDDM patients with 0.3-34 yr of disease were compared with those of 60 normal healthy control subjects. RESULTS — The diameters ± SD of the head, body, and tail of the pancreas in IDDM patients (1.9 ± 0.3; 0.9 ± 0.2; and 1.4 ± 0.2 cm, respectively) were smaller than in NIDDM patients (2.7 ± 0.4; 1.2 ± 0.3; and 1.8 ± 0.4 cm, respectively) and control group subjects (2.4 ± 0.4; 1.1 ± 0.3; and 1.8 ± 0.4 cm, respectively). The pancreatic shrinkage in IDDM patients was clearly evident after 10 yr of the disease. NIDDM patients and control subjects had similar pancreatic dimensions, except for a greater body thickness in NIDDM patients with>10yr of disease (1.2 ± 0.4vs. 1.1 ± 0.3 cm). These results were not related to differences in age, sex, and body size. Pancreas image was hypoechogenic in 72.5 % of IDDM patients and hyperechogenic in 83.3 % of NIDDM patients. CONCLUSIONS — Smaller pancreases in IDDM patients in comparison wit