Pancreatic 18F-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.