ultrasonographic alterations of pancreas in diabetic patients

background : pancreas as the insulin-producing gland is subjected to destruction and change in the diabetes-producing process. realtime sonography can assess the gland in 95% of cases and its accuracy in diagnosis of pancreatic disease matches that of ct-scan. the purpose of this study was to evaluate pancreatic diameter and echogenicity by sonography and to examine the correlation of these two factors with duration of disease in diabetes types i and ii in comparison with controls. methods : in two groups of 60 diabetic patients and healthy controls, diameter and echogenicity of pancreas was determined. results : diameter of pancreas was significantly different in diabetic patients and correlated with duration of disease. conclusions : in type i diabetes, decrease in the size of pancreas was more prevalent than in type ii diabetes and these changes become more prominent over time.