Pancreatic cross-section: an elliptical model.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic surgery has developed over the last 60 years. A pancreaticoduodenectomy of the pancreatic head and duodenal papilla is the most common procedure. The most popular pancreatic cross-section site of a pancreaticoduodenectomy is the isthmus of the gland. The pancreatic isthmus anatomical configuration is still being considered.


METHODS
The authors propose a new parametric descriptive system of pancreatic cross-section based on an elliptical model.


RESULTS
The pancreatic cross-section was evaluated as a geometric ellipse and the location of the pancreatic duct was based on coordinates. When analyzing the cross-section plane of the pancreatic isthmus, the mean size of the pancreatic isthmus cross-section was 10.46+/-2.34 mm in width (mean+/-SD) and 25.55+/-4.56 mm in length. The mean vertical/horizontal distance ratio was 0.42+/-0.12. The mean size of the main pancreatic duct was 1.02x2.46 mm. The mean distribution coordinates of the main pancreatic duct were: X 51.23; Y 50.60.


CONCLUSIONS
A proportional model of pancreatic isthmus cross-section analysis is easy and effective, and could become a valuable tool in future anatomical studies. The system described allows us to analyze data acquired from several investigators.
Hac
Stanisław
S
Department of General Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. sthac@amg.gda.pl
Nalecz
Adam
A
Dobosz
Marek
M
Radziszewski
Krzysztof
K
Reszetow
Jacek
J
Jaśkiewicz
Kazimierz
K
Sledzinski
Zbigniew
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*