ABSTRACT
Pancreatic transplantation is an established treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes patients and select type 2 diabetes patients, with excellent survival rates as graft health is evaluated through regular imaging and early detection of complications. Amongst the various imaging methods that may aid in diagnosis of pancreatic transplant complications, ultrasound is a widely available, quick, portable, and cost-effective technique, often used as the sole method to assess for pancreatic transplant complications. When assessing a patient with a pancreatic transplant, the radiologist should be methodical in assessing the vasculature, the pancreatic parenchyma, and the peripancreatic regions. Complications can be categorised based on time from transplant and type of complications, and include vascular, parenchymal, and enteric/anastomotic complications. Doppler has a major role in the diagnosis of vascular complications including arterial and venous thrombosis, arterial stenosis, pseudoaneurysms, and haematomas. Pancreatic complications include rejections and pancreatitis, and are often diagnosed through a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, such as pancreatic heterogeneity or the presence of pancreatic pseudocysts. Enteric/anastomotic complications include leaks and bowel obstructions, and may require cross-sectional imaging in addition to ultrasound. This review covers the most common and high-impact vascular, parenchymal, and enteric/anastomotic complications that should be considered in every radiologist's search pattern when assessing a pancreatic graft, as well as their respective postoperative timeframes.
ABSTRACT
The 4D Flow MRI technique provides a three-dimensional representation of blood flow over time, making it possible to evaluate the hemodynamics of the cardiovascular system both qualitatively and quantitatively. In this article, we describe the application of the 4D Flow technique in a 3T scanner; in addition to the technical parameters, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the technique and its possible clinical applications. We used 4D Flow MRI to study different body areas (chest, abdomen, neck, and head) in 10 volunteers. We obtained 3D representations of the patterns of flow and quantitative hemodynamic measurements. The technique makes it possible to evaluate the pattern of blood flow in large and midsize vessels without the need for exogenous contrast agents.
