Pancreatic atrophy

A reduction in pancreatic parenchymal volume characterized by loss of acinar tissue, relative preservation or loss of islets, and replacement by fibrotic and/or fatty tissue, resulting in impaired exocrine and sometimes endocrine pancreatic function.

Causes

• Inflammatory causes

  • Chronic pancreatitis

  • Autoimmune pancreatitis

  • Recurrent acute pancreatitis

• Obstructive causes

  • Pancreatic duct stricture

  • Pancreatic duct stones

  • Malignancy: pancreatic cancer or periampullary tumors

• Metabolic causes

  • Metabolic syndrome

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Obesity-associated fatty pancreatic infiltration

• Genetic causes

  • Cystic fibrosis

  • Hereditary pancreatitis

• Postsurgical causes

  • Previous pancreatic surgery

  • Partial pancreatectomy

  • Surgical injury to the pancreatic duct

• Medications and substances

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors

  • Alcohol-related pancreatic injury

• Other causes

  • Aging-related pancreatic atrophy

  • Chronic ischemia

  • Severe malnutrition