Standard Data of the Morphometric Parameters of the Pancreas in the Iranian Population

The pancreas is a mixed gland associated with the digestive system. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study on normal pancreatic standards in the Iranian population.

Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the morphometry of the pancreas in terms of length, width, weight, and variations of cadavers in Khorasan Razavi province.

A total of 312 cadavers (67 female/ 245 male) were included in the study between May 2014 and August 2015, in the Legal Medicine Organization, Mashhad, Iran. Demographic values were obtained from ever fresh Iranian cadaver. Length, width and weight of pancreas were measured using standard tools. Pancreas were observed carefully, whether any variations were present. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Three hundred twelve cadavers with a mean age of 42.48 ± 21.39 were enrolled to the study. The mean values of the pancreas length, width, weight, and index of the pancreas were 15.22 ± 5.09 cm, 8.21 ± 4.38 cm, 3.41 ± 0.69, 72.68 ± 23.77 grams, and 1.24 ± 0.57, respectively. The variation of pancraticodeodenal duct was in 2.6% of cases (n=8). There was no significant difference between the morphometric values of the pancreas between males and females (P>0.05). The width and index of pancreas was correlated statistically with BMI, body height and weight (P<0.05). A correlation with body height and weight was found for the pancreas length and weight (P<0.05).

Understanding the anatomy of the normal pancreas is useful for both anthropologists and anatomists. Besides, it provides good information for pancreatic segmental resection for surgeons.