Summary: Fatty pancreas was first described almost 94 years ago. Since then the subject has been poorly investigated. In the light of globally growing problems with obesity and diseases associated with it (type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and malignant neoplasms), non-alcoholic pancreas disease (NAFPD) has become a point of interest for many researchers and clinicians.
It is known that adipocytes are not only a store of energy for our bodies but are also endocrinologically active. Some of the cytokines produced by adipocytes can cause an inflammatory reaction. That inflammation together with insulin resistance can be a reason for developing diabetes mellitus. It is also associated with cardiovascular disease or can even promote the development of pancreatic cancer. This is why patients who are in a risk group for developing NAFPD (people with obesity, older than 54 years, male) should be under special supervision by general practitioners.