Pancreatic steatosis: a giant step forward or recognition of ignorance

This review analyzes the terminology of pancreatic steatosis, the data about the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) were given. The etiological factors of NAFPD are usually subdivided into hereditary, metabolic, and toxic ones. The main etiopathogenetic factor of pancreatic fatty infiltration is obesity: it causes pancreatic infiltration by adipocytes, leading to the development of NAFPD. The pathogenesis of the disease is associated with adipocytic tissue dysfunction, which induces local and systemic inflammatory response with corresponding clinical consequences. Insulin resistance and oxidative stress play major role in the pathogenesis of NAFPD. From a histological point of view, NAFPD is a heterogeneous process, characterized by excessive intracellular accumulation of lipids and fatty infiltration followed by fatty replacement of the pancreas. NAFPD clinical picture is asymptomatic and nonspecific. Diagnosis of NAFPD is based primarily on the results of imaging methods (ultrasound, CT, MRI). A consequence of NAFPD is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency requiring enzyme replacement therapy. One of the NAFPD complications is the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Currently, standards for the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with NAFPD have not been developed yet, but on used the guidelines for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (rational diet, exercises, weight loss). The “gold standard” of enzyme replacement therapy, such as Creon®, is used for correction of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The detailed analysis of the clinical case of total pancreatic steatosis with severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was done in this article.