Imaging of diabetes

1. Diabetes is a complex systemic disease, with juvenile and adult onset forms, but both cause damage to small peripheral vessels that can be detected on radiography or CT as calcification.

2. Diabetes also is related to obesity and muscle wasting, which can be detected on radiographs but is easier to detect on CT, although no imaging is needed for this clinically apparent finding.

3. CT is the most appropriate imaging study for evaluation of the pancreas, but MR can be used to solve problems and can provide superior characterization of internal structure of tumors. Small pancreatic masses may be missed on US.

4. Pancreatic atrophy can be seen in normal aging or after chronic pancreatitis, but since only beta-islet cells are abnormal in Type 1 diabetes, physical changes of the pancreas are not typically seen with imaging even in long-standing diabetes.

5. Osteoporosis can occur in normal aging but may be accelerated in chronic diseases such as diabetes. Bone densitometry is needed to quantify bone loss, although thinning and compression fractures can be detected on radiographs or CT.

Click the links below to review the ACR recommendations for osteoporosis.

osteoporosis