Sonographic Assessment of Pancreatic Echogenicity in Normal Adults in South-South Nigeria
Published: 2023-04-20
Page: 29-35
Issue: 2023 - Volume 6 [Issue 1]
Enefia Kelvin Kiridi
Department of Radiology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Silhouette Radiodiagnostic Consultants, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Peter Chibuzor Oriji *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Emily Gabriel Enefia Kiridi
Department of Physiology, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Obiora Chibundu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Johnpatrick Uchenna Ugwoegbu
Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Obinna Isidore Onyia
Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The pancreas has a normal echogenicity that is comparable to or slightly higher than that of the liver. Fat accumulated around the pancreas determines pancreatic echogenicity, and ultrasound scan is a crucial diagnostic and screening tool for its assessment.
Objective: To determine the pancreatic echogenicity in normal adults, and their relationship with age, sex, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
Subjects and Methods: This descriptive, cross‐sectional study was conducted in four health institutions in Bayelsa State, Nigeria from July, 2022 to February, 2023. Statistical Product and Service Solutions for Windows® version 25, SPSS Inc.; Chicago, USA was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentages) and analysis of variance were done. Chi-square statistics was used to examine the association between sex and echogenicity of the pancreas. The statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: Most (303, 75.3%) of the participants had Grade I pancreatic echogenicity. There was positive correlation between pancreatic echogenicity and age, height, weight and body mass index. There was no significant relationship between pancreatic echogenicity and sex (X2 = 0.085; p = 0.771).
Conclusion: This study has established that pancreatic hyperechogenicity does not always suggest a pathology. Healthy males and females can have pancreatic hyperechogenicity without the presence of a medical condition.
Keywords: Pancreas, ultrasound, pancreatic echogenicity, age, sex, height, weight, BMI