Value of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating the pancreatic allograft transplant complications

To retrospectively investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting complications following pancreas transplant.

Institutional review board approved this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study and waived informed patient consent. We identified all allograft pancreas transplant patients at our institution from 2001 to January 2014 who had all pertinent post-transplant imaging and clinical data available. Transplant type was documented. Patients were divided into two groups according to post-transplant period (group A; <12 months, group B; ≥12 months). We evaluated the parenchymal enhancement using contrast-enhanced MRI of the allograft and determined the mean percentage of parenchymal enhancement (MPPE) overall and in various abnormalities, the vessel patency, any peripancreatic fluid collection, and the ductal anatomy. We correlated these with clinical results using t test, χ ², and Fisher’s exact test; p < 0.05 was considered significant.

51 patients (34 male, mean age 43.7 years) were identified, 28 (55%) of whom had abnormal imaging findings; transplant rejection-related necrosis (n = 7), fluid collections (n = 7), vascular stenosis (n = 4), isolated venous thromboses (n = 3), acute pancreatitis (n = 3), pancreatic and peripancreatic abscesses (n = 2), pseudoaneurysm (n = 1), and small-bowel obstruction (n = 1). Pre vs. post-contrast pancreatic MPPE at 1 min was 120% in the normal allografts and 115% in the allografts with pancreatitis and without necrosis (p > 0.05). MPPE at 1 min was only 9% in the allografts rejections with necrosis/infarction. More complications were found in group A than group B (p < 0.05).

Contrast-enhanced MRI is useful for the non-invasive assessment of pancreas transplant complications.