Evaluation of real time ultrasonography of the normal pancreas

91 cases who were free of pancreatic disease and the related conditions, were studied by high resolution and wide field real time ultrasonographic scanner with 3.5MHz linear array electronically focusing transucers. The pancreatic examination method and the anatomic structures in and around the pancreas were investigated, and thenormal pancreatic findings by real time ultrasonograph were as follows; 1. Among all 91 cases, 44 cases were maleand 47 cases female, and the frequent age groups were the 4th to the sixth decade. 2. The pancreatic images were obtained in 86% and the good images in 65%. 3. The shapes of pancrease were sausage (40%), dumb-bell(34%), tadpole(9%), and club(17%). 4. Pancreatic size was 1.56±0.37, 2.4, 0.8cm (Mean±SD, Max, Min.) in head, 1.32±0.29, 2.0, 0.8 cm in isthmus, and 1.62±0.31, 2.4, 1.0 cm in tail. 5. The successful rate of pancreatic ductvisualization was 46%. The shapes of pancreatic duct were linear(22%), tramline(16%), and tubular (8%). 6. The pancreatic echogenecity is greater than that of the liver in 68%, and equivalent to that of the liver in 32%, and no normal pancrease displayed less echogenecity than the liver. 7. Pancreatic echogenecity is lesser than that of adjacent soft tissue in 79% and equivalent to that of adjacent soft tissue in 21%. 8. The pancreataic echogenecityis homogenous in 79%. 9. The pancreatic margin is smooth in 62%, undulated in 11%, and ill defined in 27%.