Magnetic Resonance Imaging as Non-Invasive Tool for Predicting Success of Islet Transplantation

Abstract

The success of autologous islet transplantation greatly depends on the total islet yield. Using MRI as a non-invasive tool to determine the volume of the pancreas, the correlation between the calculated volume of the pancreas and the total islet yield has been determined. By using the volume of the pancreas as an indicator of total islet yield, MRI could be used as a predictive tool to determine the success of islet transplants. The data was gathered retrospectively from ten transplant patients, and the volume was determined by freehand contouring of the pancreas on MR images. With only ten patients, no significant correlation could be found between the volume vs. total islet yield, volume vs. IEQ (Islet Equivalent unit), mass vs. total islet yield, and mass vs. IEQ, with correlations of 0.238, 0.139, 0.343, and 0.219, respectively. The lack of correlation between the volume and total islet yield indicates other unaccounted variables such as fibrosis, inflammation, and fatty tissue infiltration that destroy islets but were not included in our volume calculations. Using a new protocol that takes the stated variables into account, we hope to find a better correlation between volume and total islet yield in future studies.