Editorial
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World J Diabetes. Aug 15, 2014; 5(4): 415-419
Published online Aug 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i4.415
Pancreatic steatosis: Is it related to either obesity or diabetes mellitus?
Raffaele Pezzilli, Lucia Calculli
Raffaele Pezzilli, Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Lucia Calculli, Department of Radiology, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Author contributions: Pezzilli R and Calculli L analyzed the literature data and interpreted the results; Pezzilli R designed the study and wrote the manuscript; Pezzilli R and Calculli L approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Raffaele Pezzilli, MD, Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. raffaele.pezzilli@aosp.bo.it
Telephone: +39-051-6364148 Fax: +39-051-6364148
Received: May 4, 2014
Revised: May 25, 2014
Accepted: June 27, 2014
Published online: August 15, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Pancreatic steatosis is easily detectable using modern imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography, endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. It is not due to the presence of diabetes mellitus but is highly associated with the metabolic syndrome. The possible presence of steatopancreatitis should be better evaluated, especially regarding the inflammatory cascade, and additional studies are needed which are capable of assessing whether non-alcoholic steatopancreatitis really exists as does non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Additional studies regarding the exocrine pancreatic function in patients with pancreatic steatosis are needed.