An MRI study of pancreatic atrophy in children with type 1 diabetes: Heterogeneity, disease duration effects, and progression prediction models

Abstract Aim To investigate the heterogeneity of pancreatic alterations in children with T1D and the effect of disease duration on the pancreas. To develop predictive models based on clinical and imaging parameters at baseline to determine whether pancreatic atrophy will progress at follow‐up. Methods This retrospective study included 90 children with T1D and 82 control children. Clinical and pancreatic imaging data were analysed for between‐group comparisons and within‐group correlations. Linear mixed‐effect models were used to analyse the dynamic changes in pancreatic MRI parameters in 35 children with T1D, and predictive models were developed to evaluate the pancreatic atrophy progression. Results Compared with the control children, those with T1D exhibited lower pancreatic volume, pancreatic volume index (PVI), diameters of the pancreatic head, body, and tail, pancreatic surface area, and pancreatic margin regularity score but a higher pancreatic surface area‐to‐volume ratio. PVI and pancreatic surface area were reduced in the duration ≥3 years subgroup compared with the duration <3 years. Pancreatic head diameter and pancreatic surface area were lower in the poor glycaemic control subgroup compared with the good glycaemic control subgroup. Pancreatic surface area decreased in the age at diagnosis <8 years subgroup compared with the age at diagnosis ≥8 years subgroup. PVI and pancreatic head diameter progressively decreased with disease duration. For predicting the progression of pancreatic atrophy, the AUC value was 0.736 for the combined clinical and MR parametric model. Conclusion Children with T1D exhibit altered pancreatic size and morphology, with heterogeneity in pancreatic atrophy. Pancreatic atrophy progressed at follow‐up compared to baseline, and disease duration exacerbated these pancreatic alterations. An integrated model can effectively predict pancreatic atrophy progression.