Hepatic and pancreatic fat as imaging biomarkers of metabolic syndrome. / Valoración de la grasa hepática y pancreática como biomarcadores de imagen en el síndrome metabólico.

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate hepatic and pancreatic involvement in metabolic syndrome through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From an initial retrospective sample of 407 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome studied by MRI in a single center during a 2-year period, 154 were excluded because of a lack of clinical and/or laboratory data, pancreatic abnormalities, or inadequate quality of MRI studies. To measure hepatic and pancreatic fat, we used chemical shift imaging (in-phase and out-of-phase), measuring the fat fraction (%) in regions of interest in the pancreas and liver. Associations between the fat fraction and selected clinical and laboratory variables were assessed with beta regression models. RESULTS: In the end, 253 patients were included. The hepatic fat fraction was 4.9% and the pancreatic fat fraction was 7.9%. We found no significant associations between the hepatic fat fraction and any of the clinical or laboratory variables. However, the pancreatic fat fraction was positively associated with age (OR=1.025, p<0.001) and baseline glucose (OR=1.005, p<0.001). Patients with diabetes had higher values of pancreatic fat fraction (OR=2.64, p=0.038). Pancreatic fat fraction and hepatic fat fraction were positively associated (OR=69.44, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic steatosis can be considered a marker of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Quantitative MRI enables the diagnosis and grading of fatty pancreas through simple chemical shift techniques.

Usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the postsurgical assessment of patients with inflatable penile prostheses. / Utilidad de la resonancia magnética en la valoración postquirúrgica de pacientes con prótesis hidráulica de pene.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the types of penile prostheses and their components, to review the appropriate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition protocol, and to describe the normal imaging findings and possible complications in patients with inflatable penile implants. CONCLUSION: Three-piece inflatable penile prostheses are the last link in the treatment chain for erectile dysfunction. They can develop complications, which are classified as non-infectious related to the surgical technique, infectious, or due to mechanical failure of the device. MRI is the most appropriate imaging technique for the postsurgical evaluation of penile prostheses. Images are acquired in three planes using sequences with high spatial resolution, first with the prosthesis at rest and then with the prosthesis activated.