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01-12-2018 | Commentary

Futility of attempts to detect and quantify beta cells by PET imaging in the pancreas: why it is time to abandon the approach

Authors: Abass Alavi, Thomas J. Werner

Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 12/2018

Abstract

In this commentary, we describe the limitations of positron emission tomography (PET) in visualising and characterising beta cell mass in the native pancreas in healthy individuals and those diagnosed with diabetes. Imaging with PET requires a large mass of targeted cells or other structures in the range of approximately 8–10 cm³. Since islets occupy only 1% of the pancreatic volume and are dispersed throughout the organ, it is our view that uptake of PET tracers, including [¹⁸F]fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine, in islets cannot be successfully detected by current imaging modalities. Therefore, we dispute the feasibility of PET imaging for the detection of loss of beta cells in the native pancreas in individuals with diabetes. However, we believe this novel approach can be successfully employed to visualise beta cell mass in individuals with hyperinsulinism and transplanted islets.

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Title: Futility of attempts to detect and quantify beta cells by PET imaging in the pancreas: why it is time to abandon the approach
Authors: Abass Alavi
Thomas J. Werner
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Diabetologia / Issue 12/2018
Print ISSN: 0012-186X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0428
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-018-4676-1

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