PANCREATIC STEATOSIS: A NEW AND CHALLENGING CLINICAL ENTITY

Pancreatic steatosis is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the pancreas. Although it is not as common as hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in the liver), pancreatic steatosis can have serious consequences if left untreated. Research on pancreatic steatosis aims to expand knowledge and improve understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. For the development of this work, scientific articles were sourced from the U.S. database (PUBMED), the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), and Google Scholar using keywords such as “Pancreatic Steatosis,” “pancreatic lipomatosis,” and “Non-alcoholic Fatty Pancreatic Disease (NAFPD),” as well as their corresponding Portuguese terms, published between 2013 and 2023. Pancreatic steatosis (PS) is a condition characterized by fat accumulation in the pancreatic cells. This accumulation can lead to pancreatic dysfunction and inflammation, and eventually to chronic pancreatitis. Major causes of PS include obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The most common diagnostic tests include abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently, there are several clinical studies on PS, demonstrating its link to metabolic causes and pancreatic cancer. The lack of knowledge and interest in fat accumulation in the pancreas, coupled with a scarcity of case reports and studies on the subject, complicates the correct and effective treatment. This, in turn, leads to non-adherence or a lack of necessary care and attention, especially when it comes to preventing the disease. In conclusion, there is a need for extensive research on fat accumulation in the pancreas and treatments that explore new approaches for prevention.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2025