Evaluating Glucose Dysfunction using Hepatic Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Motivation: The hepatic iron deposition in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients could affect insulin resistance and glucose production. The R2*-based method for measuring iron content can be affected by factors like fat tissue and background magnetic fields. Goal(s): the study employed QSM method, which is insensitivity to the above confounder, to evaluate glucose dysfunction in T2DM. Approach: Hepatic R2* and QSM values were measured in 11 T2DM patients, and were correlated with glucose tolerance. Results: A negative correlation between QSM values and the insulin β-cells dysfunction was found, whereas R2* values did not show any significant correlation. Impact: Hepatic Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping may serve as a predictor of glucose metabolism dysfunction in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and has shown to be more effective than hepatic R2* for this purpose.