[Craniocaudad extension of the head of the pancreas]

In 106 patients without pancreatic disease subjected to ultrasound examination the craniocaudad dimension of the pancreatic head was determined. The mean craniocaudad echographic size of the pancreatic head was 5.9 cm in female and 6.2 cm in male individuals. The knowledge of the craniocaudad dimension of the pancreatic head may be useful to avoid misinterpretation of lymph node enlargement in the region of the pancreatic head.