CT imaging shows specific pancreatic abnormalities in persons with cystic fibrosis related diabetes

Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is observed in 20-50% of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Pancreas abnormalities on imaging, e.g. pancreas lipomatosis, are frequent in subjects with CF. We hypothesized that specific abnormalities may characterize patients with CFRD. We performed a retrospective study comparing the computed tomography (CT) of participants with CF with or without diabetes (CFRD and CF control groups). We classified the pancreas on imaging according to 3 categories: normal, partial lipomatosis and complete lipomatosis of the pancreas. We also assessed the presence or absence of pancreatic calcifications. Forty-one CFRD and 53 CF control participants were included. Only 2% of the patients with CFRD had a normal pancreas, as compared with 30% of the participants from the CF control group (p=0.0016). Lipomatosis was more frequent in subjects with CFRD and was related to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and to severe CFTR mutations (classes I to III). Nine participants with diabetes (22%) presented with pancreatic calcifications, versus none of the control participants (p=0.0003). In conclusion, pancreas imaging was almost always abnormal in subjects with CFRD, while it was normal in a third of the CF control subjects. Pancreatic calcifications were specific of subjects with CFRD.

Automated summary

Pancreatic imaging is usually abnormal in subjects with CFRD, while it is normal in approximately one third of CF control subjects. Pancreatic calcification is a specific feature observed in subjects with CFRD.