Vascular complications of pancreatic transplantation: MR evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR imaging with dynamic gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced gradient-echo (Gd-GRE) sequences in detection of vascular complications of pancreatic transplantation.


METHODS
Three radiologists evaluated findings of 32 MR examinations in 20 adult patients who underwent pancreatic transplantation. The images were obtained with a surface coil and T1-weighted and T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences, Gd-GRE sequences, and MR angiography. Vascular abnormality was confirmed at surgery or biopsy, and vascular patency with clinical correlation.


RESULTS
Absence of flow was found in six of 32 studies (19%): acute vascular thrombosis of the vascular pedicle and/or branch vessels in four studies (three patients) and chronic pancreatic rejection in two studies (one patient). Gd-GRE images helped identify infarction in two patients. The sensitivity of MR angiography for detection of acute vascular compromise was 100%, and the specificity was 93%.


CONCLUSIONS
MR angiography and MR imaging with Gd-GRE sequences allow detection of vascular complications of pancreatic transplantation.
Krebs
T L
TL
Department of Radiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Daly
B
B
Wong
J J
JJ
Chow
C C
CC
Bartlett
S T
ST
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007238:Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014654:Vascular Patency
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA