#2955 Incidental findings in a renal magnetic resonance imaging study for evaluation of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes population
Authors: Makvandi Kianoush , Hockings Paul , Hulthe Johannes , Baid-Agrawal Seema 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques are potential methods to non-invasively assess and quantify functional, structural and pathophysiological changes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) that may improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of these patients. Advances in imaging techniques are also likely to result in the detection of unexpected and asymptomatic incidental findings. We retrospectively analyzed the overall prevalence of incidental findings in the participants of our previously reported study utilizing a non-contrast multiparametric MRI protocol in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) as compared to healthy controls.

Method

The subjects of this sub-study were participants of our original prospective, single-center, observational study, in which several MRI biomarkers were evaluated to differentiate diabetic versus healthy kidneys, and various stages of CKD. A complete medical history and physical examination were performed. The inclusion criteria for the T2DM cohort were: Age 18-70 years, type II DM with CKD staged 3-4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 15-60 ml/min/1.73 m2, body mass index (BMI) 18-35 and provision of written informed consent. The control group comprised of healthy volunteers who were age- and sex-matched and had the following inclusion criteria: Age 18-70 years, eGFR &gt;80 ml/min/1.73 m2, UACR &lt;30 mmol/g, BMI 18-35 and provision of written informed consent. Exclusion criteria for the diabetic group were any apparent cause/s of CKD other than diabetes, previous kidney transplantation, pregnancy, contraindication for MRI examination, heart failure (NYHA class III or IV), allergies to iodine-based contrast agents. Factors that excluded healthy participants were pregnancy, contraindication for MRI examination, allergy to iodine-based contrast agents and any active or chronic disease/diagnosis. Measured GFR (mGFR) was assessed in all participants using iohexol clearance. An MRI scan using a wide range of non-contrast techniques was performed at baseline. Total scan time for patients did not exceed 45 min per session and no gadolinium-based contrast agents were used in any of the MRI examinations. All patients with incidental findings on MRI were further evaluated and referred to appropriate specialists for management.

Results

A total of 38 T2DM patients with CKD and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers who completed the study were included in the analysis. Of the T2DM patients, 2 were found to have CKD stage 2 by mGFR and 36 CKD stages 3–4. Clinically significant incidental findings (excluding 4 cases of renal cysts requiring only follow-up without further intervention) were found in 13 of the 38 (34%) T2DM patients. The most frequent findings were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) in 7 patients, followed by 3 cancers (1 case of kidney cancer, 1 bladder cancer and 1 lymphoma) and 3 cases of adrenal gland mass later diagnosed to be benign adenoma on further investigation. In contrast, of the 20 healthy volunteers, 2 (10%) were found to have significant incidental findings, which were IPMN in both. The follow-up duration varied between 2-6 years. The patient with bladder cancer had metastatic disease and died shortly after the diagnosis, the one with kidney cancer is under observation and the one with lymphoma underwent adequate treatment and is under remission. The cases of IPMN are being followed up regularly at our surgical department.

Conclusion

Clinically important incidental findings on renal MRI appear to be more common in T2DM patients than in healthy volunteers, which would have been missed without MRI examination. Mechanisms for reporting and strategies for dealing with incidental findings need to be taken into account in such investigational imaging studies. The detection of incidental findings also poses various practical and ethical issues. Further larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed to delineate the clinical relevance, natural course and management of such incidental findings.