Assessment of pancreatic volume in the Turkish adult population using 3D Slicer-based computed tomography...

This study aimed to determine normative pancreatic volume (PV) values in healthy Western Asian adults using computed tomography and 3D Slicer software, and to evaluate the relationship between PV and demographic parameters including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 905 adults (403 females, 502 males; mean age: 43.88 ± 17.11 years) who underwent abdominal CT between January and December 2023. Individuals with diabetes mellitus, pancreatic or peripancreatic pathology, prior malignancy, or inadequate imaging were excluded. Pancreas segmentation was manually performed on axial slices using 3D Slicer v.4.11.2, excluding ducts and vascular structures. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate linear regression.

The mean PV was 84.33 ± 5.74 cm³. Males had significantly higher PV than females (85.68 ± 6.05 cm3 vs 82.65 ± 4.83 cm³, p < 0.001). PV peaked in the fourth decade in males and the fifth decade in females, followed by a decline. A significant negative correlation between age and PV was observed in males (r = -0.321, p < 0.001), but not in females. PV positively correlated with BMI in both sexes. Age, BMI, and male sex were identified as independent predictors of PV (R² = 0.326, p < 0.001).

Pancreatic volume varies with age, sex, and BMI in healthy Western Asian adults. These normative values may assist in future clinical and radiological evaluations of pancreatic morphology.