[Size and echogenicity of the pancreas in Chilean adults: echotomography study in 261 patients]

The aim of this work was to perform ultrasonographic measurements of normal pancreas in the Chilean population. Among 5000 subjects referred for an ultrasound abdominal examination, those without history of alcoholism, pancreatitis or liver disease were selected for the study. 261 individuals (157 female) aged 20 to 79 years were studied. The size of the head of the pancreas ranged from 6 to 28 mm (17.7 +/- 4.2 mm), the body size ranged from 4 to 23 mm (10.1 +/- 3.8 mm) and the tail size from 5 to 28 mm (16.4 +/- 4.2 mm). These figures are lower than those reported in Europe and North America. No size differences were observed according to sex or body frame. Progressive declines in size with age, were observed in all pancreatic segments. No hypoecogenic pancreas were observed. A new technique to improve pancreatic ultrasonographic vision is proposed.