Development of a standardized MRI protocol for pancreas assessment in humans

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e0256029
• Main Authors: Virostko, John, Craddock, Richard C, Williams, Jonathan M, Triolo, Taylor M, Hilmes, Melissa A, Kang, Hakmook, Du, Liping, Wright, Jordan J, Kinney, Mara, Maki, Jeffrey H, Medved, Milica, Waibel, Michaela, Kay, Thomas W H, Thomas, Helen E, Greeley, Siri Atma W, Steck, Andrea K, Moore, Daniel J, Powers, Alvin C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 24-08-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Biology and Life Sciences; Clinical trials; Coefficient of variation; Computer and Information Sciences; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diagnosis; Diffusion; Diffusion coefficient; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Disease; Endocrinology; Engineering and Technology; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Hospitals; Humans; Image acquisition; Image contrast; Image processing; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Immunology; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - standards; Male; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metabolism; Neuroimaging; Pancreas; Pancreas - diagnostic imaging; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic diseases; Pancreatitis; Pediatrics; Phantoms, Imaging; Prospective Studies; Radiology; Relaxation time; Reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; Research and Analysis Methods; Scanners; United States; United States > US; Tennessee; Colorado; Texas; Victoria Australia; Chicago Illinois; Australia; Nashville Tennessee; Germany
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256029

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has detected changes in pancreas volume and other characteristics in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, differences in MRI technology and approaches across locations currently limit the incorporation of pancreas imaging into multisite trials. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized MRI protocol for pancreas imaging and to define the reproducibility of these measurements. Calibrated phantoms with known MRI properties were imaged at five sites with differing MRI hardware and software to develop a harmonized MRI imaging protocol. Subsequently, five healthy volunteers underwent MRI at four sites using the harmonized protocol to assess pancreas size, shape, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), longitudinal relaxation time (T1), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), and pancreas and hepatic fat fraction. Following harmonization, pancreas size, surface area to volume ratio, diffusion, and longitudinal relaxation time were reproducible, with coefficients of variation less than 10%. In contrast, non-standardized image processing led to greater variation in MRI measurements. By using a standardized MRI image acquisition and processing protocol, quantitative MRI of the pancreas performed at multiple locations can be incorporated into clinical trials comparing pancreas imaging measures and metabolic state in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.