JOMPAC
Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care

Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care (JOMPAC) is an open access scientific journal with independent, unbiased, and double-blind review under international guidelines. The purpose of JOMPAC is to contribute to the literature by publishing articles on health sciences and medicine.

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Original Article
Fetal pancreatic, hepatic, and adipose tissue measurements in maternal diabetes mellitus: an observational cross-sectional study
Abstract
Aims: To assess the effects of maternal diabetes mellitus on fetal organ development through ultrasonographic assessment of pancreatic circumference, liver length, and subcutaneous fat thickness in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregestational diabetes mellitus (PreGDM), and normal pregnancies. A secondary objective is to evaluate the fetal pancreas-to-liver ratio as a novel marker of the relative effects of maternal diabetes on different organs. Methods: This prospective comparative study included 126 pregnant women divided into three groups: GDM (n=42), PreGDM (n=42), and control (n=42). Ultrasonographic measurements of fetal pancreatic circumference, liver length, and subcutaneous fat thickness were obtained between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Maternal demographic characteristics and birth parameters were collected from all participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance for detecting GDM. Results: Significant differences were observed in all fetal organ measurements between diabetic and control groups. Fetal pancreatic circumference was increased in both GDM (90.8±19.2 mm) and PreGDM (90.4±17.0 mm) compared to controls (81.0±9.8 mm, p=0.007). Fetal liver length showed a significant increase in GDM (53.4±12.2 mm) and PreGDM (51.2±9.6 mm) versus controls (44.5±5.6 mm, p

Keywords : Gestational diabetes mellitus, pregestational diabetes mellitus, fetal pancreas, fetal liver, ultrasound, prenatal diagnosis

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Article available in :
Volume 7, Issue 2, 2026
Page : 225-231
https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1873615
Article Information
Received : 28 Oca 2026
Accepted : 20 Şub 2026
Published : 27 Mar 2026
Corresponding Author :

Fırat Ersan: Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Ersan F, Alpay V, Kurt Bilirer K, Boza B, Erenel H. Fetal pancreatic, hepatic, and adipose tissue measurements in maternal diabetes mellitus: an observational cross-sectional study. J Med Palliat Care. 2026;7(2):225-231. doi:10.47582/jompac.1873615

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