Pancreatic (18)F-FDG uptake is increased in type 2 diabetes patients compared to non-diabetic controls

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence indicates that the development of type 2 diabetes is driven by chronic low grade beta-cell inflammation. However, it is unclear whether pancreatic inflammation can be noninvasively visualized in type 2 diabetes patients. We aimed to assess pancreatic (18)F-FDG uptake in type 2 diabetes patients and controls using (18)F-fluorodeoxylglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we enrolled 20 type 2 diabetes patients and 65 controls who had undergone a diagnostic (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan and obtained standardized uptake values (SUVs) of pancreas and muscle. Pancreatic SUV was adjusted for background uptake in muscle and for fasting blood glucose concentrations. RESULTS: The maximum pancreatic SUVs adjusted for background muscle uptake (SUV(max.m)) and fasting blood glucose concentration (SUV(glucose)) were significantly higher in diabetes patients compared to controls (median 2.86 [IQR 2.24–4.36] compared to 2.15 [IQR 1.51–2.83], p = 0.006 and median 2.76 [IQR 1.18–4.34] compared to 1.91 [IQR 1.27–2.55], p<0.001, respectively). In linear regression adjusting for age and body mass index, diabetes remained the main predictor of SUV(max.m) and SUV(glucose). CONCLUSION: Pancreatic (18)F-FDG uptake adjusted for background muscle uptake and fasting blood glucose concentration was significantly increased in type 2 diabetes patients.