Image or scope: Magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic testing for exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency in children.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate associations between Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and endocrine insufficiency (prediabetes or diabetes) in children.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included patients<21 years of age who underwent MRI and endoscopic pancreatic function testing (ePFT; reference standard for pancreatic exocrine function) within 3 months. MRI variables included pancreas parenchymal volume, secreted fluid volume in response to secretin, and T1 relaxation time. Data were analyzed for the full sample as well as the subset without acute pancreatitis (AP) at the time of imaging.

RESULTS: Of 72 patients, 56% (40/72) were female with median age 11.4 years. A 5 mL decrease in pancreas parenchymal volume was associated with increased odds of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction by both ePFT (OR = 1.16, p = 0.02 full sample; OR = 1.29, p = 0.01 no-AP subset), and fecal elastase (OR = 1.16, p = 0.04 full sample; OR = 1.23, p = 0.02 no-AP subset). Pancreas parenchymal volume had an AUC 0.71 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.83) for predicting exocrine pancreatic dysfunction by ePFT and when combined with sex and presence of AP had an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.92). Regarding endocrine function, decreased pancreas parenchymal volume was associated with increased odds of diabetes (OR = 1.16, p = 0.03), and T1 relaxation time predicted glycemic outcomes with an AUC 0.78 (95% CI: 0.55-1), 91% specificity and 73% sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS: Pancreas parenchymal volume is an MRI marker of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic dysfunction in children. A model including sex, AP, and pancreas volume best predicted exocrine status. T1 relaxation time is also an MRI marker of endocrine insufficiency.