Radiologia Brasileira - Publicação Científica Oficial do Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia

INTRODUCTION

Pancreas transplantation is a well-established treatment for patients with complicated diabetes mellitus and advanced renal failure⁽¹⁾. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT), which is the most common procedure, has provided an increase in the life expectancy of such patients^(2–4). In addition to SPKT, isolated pancreas transplantation or pancreas transplantation after kidney transplantation, in separate procedures at different time points, can be performed^(2,4). Currently the most common form of pancreas transplantation, SPKT accounts for 75% of all pancreas transplantations in Brazil^(4,5).

Various imaging techniques can be used in order to detect early and late complications after pancreas transplantation^(1,2). The techniques used most often are ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


ANATOMY AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

The most common procedure used in SPKT consists in positioning the pancreas graft in the right pelvic region and the kidney graft in the left iliac fossa during the same surgical procedure^(2,6,7). The pancreatic allograft is removed from the donor, together with the duodenum and vascular support (Figures 1A and 1B). The arterial blood supply to the pancreas comes from two main arteries: the superior mesenteric artery and the splenic artery⁽²⁾. The donor iliac arteries are also removed to form a Y graft, with an end-to-end anastomosis between the splenic artery and the superior mesenteric artery^(1,2), as depicted in Figures 2A and 2B. In the recipient, end-to-side anastomosis is performed between the arterial Y graft and the common iliac artery or the external iliac artery (Figure 3).




The venous drainage of the allograft consists of the intrapancreatic veins^(1,2), which drain into the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein, subsequently draining into the portal vein, which is used for venous anastomosis in the recipient (Figure 2A), allowing drainage into the systemic venous system (anastomosis in the common iliac vein or inferior vena cava) or the portal venous system (anastomosis in the superior mesenteric vein), as illustrated in Figure 3.

The exocrine pancreatic secretions can be drained to the gastrointestinal tract (Figures 4A and 4B) or to the bladder of the recipient^(1,2). Pancreas transplantation with enteric drainage is now more commonly performed and consists of anastomosis between the donor duodenal stump and the small intestine of the recipient^(1,2,6).




Regarding kidney transplantation, the donor renal artery is usually anastomosed end-to-side to the external or common iliac artery of the recipient and the renal vein is anastomosed to the external iliac vein of the recipient^(6,8).


NORMAL IMAGING ASPECTS AFTER TRANSPLANTATION

On ultrasound, the normal appearance of the pancreas graft is that of a homogeneous hypoechoic structure, although Doppler ultrasound can demonstrate graft perfusion, as well as the vascular anatomy^(1,2). On spectral Doppler, flow velocity waveforms can be obtained from the superior mesenteric artery, splenic artery, and intrapancreatic duct, those waveforms being characterized by a rapid increase in systolic blood pressure and antegrade diastolic flow. Vascular resistance is low, usually with a resistance index between 0.5 and 0.7^(1,2). The venous structures demonstrate a monophasic waveform within an anechoic lumen⁽²⁾.

Unenhanced CT shows the pancreatic allograft as a homogeneous mass that is isoattenuating in relation to nondistended bowel, and the administration of contrast typically results in uniform parenchymal enhancement that is greater during the arterial phase (Figure 5), affording a better evaluation of the transplant anatomy^(1,2). We emphasize the arterial Y graft and the peripancreatic/intrapancreatic arterial vasculature, as well as the donor portal vein and its anastomosis⁽¹⁾, as shown in Figure 6. On MRI, the normal pancreatic graft shows a signal that is isointense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images^(1,2).




The donor duodenum is usually collapsed and has thickened walls, which can be misinterpreted as a fluid collection when distended⁽²⁾. The surgical staples on either side of the duodenal stump may be useful for localization and differentiation (Figure 7).




Other early postoperative findings, such as a limited amount of peripancreatic fluid (Figure 8), ectasia of the main pancreatic duct, and mild blurring of the peripancreatic fat, are usually self-limited and do not have clinical repercussions⁽⁷⁾.




IMAGES OF COMPLICATIONS AFTER TRANSPLANTATIONS

As has previously been demonstrated^(1,2,7), early and late postoperative complications include vascular complications such as arterial and venous thrombosis; arterial stenosis; arteriovenous fistulae and pseudoaneurysms; intra-abdominal fluid collections; intestinal complications such as obstruction, dehiscence, and colitis; pancreatic graft complications, including pancreatitis and rejection; and lymphoproliferative disease after transplantation.


VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Acute graft thrombosis is the leading cause of early transplant failure, accounting for 2–10% of cases, being more common than venous thrombosis^(1,2,7). An increase in graft volume with a reduction in attenuation or parenchymal heterogeneity can be observed (Figures 9A and 9B). The Doppler examination may reveal no flow in the vessel (Figure 10A) and, occasionally, in the entire parenchyma^(2,7). Poorly formed endoluminal thrombus (Figure 10B), with or without a decrease in or absence of parenchymal enhancement⁽⁷⁾, can be seen on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI.




Stenoses occur in any anastomotic site, are uncommon, and are characterized by high velocity/turbulence on ultrasound, usually confirmed with CT angiography or magnetic resonance angiography^(1,2). Pseudoaneurysms are associated with surgical trauma, biopsies, severe pancreatitis, or infection⁽⁷⁾. Rounded anechoic structures, adjacent to the vessels, are observed on ultrasound, the so-called “yin-yang” sign (a bidirectional, turbulent, swirling blood-flow pattern) being seen on Doppler ultrasound. Contrast-enhanced CT or MRI can identify saccular dilatation with enhancement similar to the adjacent vessel^(2,7). Arteriovenous fistula is another uncommon complication, usually being iatrogenic (after surgery or biopsy). Doppler ultrasound reveals a high speed/turbulent flow of low resistance in an arterial lumen that communicates with a vein, which presents a pulsatile flow⁽²⁾.

INTRA-ABDOMINAL FLUID COLLECTIONS

Intra-abdominal fluid collections represent the most common complications associated with pancreas transplantation⁽⁷⁾. Most complications appear in the first month after the procedure and may manifest as seromas, hematomas, urinomas, abscesses, pseudocysts, or lymphoceles (Figure 11A). The nature of the fluid cannot usually be determined by imaging alone, and percutaneous drainage, as shown in Figure 11B, may therefore be essential for management of the case^(2,7).




INTESTINAL COMPLICATIONS

The most common intestinal complications are dehiscence and obstruction^(1,7), as illustrated in Figure 12. Obstruction usually occurs as a result of adherence or internal hernia, and CT is important to define the location of the obstruction^(1,2,7). Dehiscence commonly occurs in the intestinal anastomosis and may result in extravasation of pancreatic enzymes, predisposing to intra-abdominal infection^(1,2). Enterocutaneous fistulae may arise if dehiscence is not diagnosed and treated⁽²⁾. Therefore, the administration of oral contrast may be useful, because it can reveal direct or indirect signs of extravasation^(2,7).




PANCREATIC GRAFT COMPLICATIONS

It is estimated that postoperative pancreatitis occurs in approximately 35% of pancreas transplant recipients^(2,7). Ultrasound can demonstrate an increase in graft volume, textural heterogeneity, or complications, such as fluid collections, pseudocysts, and necrosis^(1,2,7). Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI are fundamental for identifying the absence of regional or diffuse parenchymal enhancement in cases of necrotizing pancreatitis, as well as possible complications^(1,2,7).

Rejection (acute, subacute, or chronic) is the main cause of graft loss^(2,7). Although some imaging findings are suggestive of rejection, including changes in the size of the gland, signal intensity, and enhancement pattern, they are nonspecific and may also occur in pancreatitis and ischemia^(2,7). Therefore, the histopathological study continues to be the gold standard⁽⁷⁾.


LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASE AFTER TRANSPLANTATION

Lymphoproliferative disease, ranging from benign lymphoid hyperplasia to aggressive, malignant, and predominantly B-cell lymphoma, is a rare late complication of transplantation. The imaging spectrum includes focal masses and an increase in the volume of the graft, associated with lymphadenopathy⁽²⁾, as depicted in Figure 13.




CONCLUSION

In advanced cases of diabetes, SPKT represents a viable therapeutic option. The most commonly used surgical technique involves the performance of vascular and enteric anastomoses. Radiologists should be aware of the characteristics of those anastomoses, as well as of their imaging aspects, which are fundamental for guiding the postoperative management of transplant recipients.


REFERENCES

1. Tolat PP, Foley WD, Johnson C, et al. Pancreas transplant imaging: how I do it. Radiology. 2015;275:14–27.

2. Vandermeer FQ, Manning MA, Frazier AA, et al. Imaging of whole-organ pancreas transplants. Radiographics. 2012;32:411–35.

3. Redfield RR, Scalea JR, Odorico JS. Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation: current trends and future directions. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2015;20:94–102.

4. Meirelles Júnior RF, Salvalaggio P, Pacheco-Silva A. Pancreas transplantation: review. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2015;13:305–9.

5. Associação Brasileira de Transplante de Órgãos. Dados numéricos da doação de órgãos e transplantes realizados por estado e instituição no período: janeiro/setembro - 2019. Registro Brasileiro de Transplantes. 2019. [acessado em: 30 junho 2020]. Disponível em: http://www.abto.org.br/abtov03/Upload/file/RBT/2019/RBT-2019-jan-set- leitura.pdf.

6. Papachristos S, Tavakoli A, Dhanda R, et al. Comparison of ipsilateral and contralateral simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation: a single-center analysis with 5-year outcome. Ann Transplant. 2019;24:298–303.

7. Antunes N, Santos R, Almeida FG, et al. Pancreatic transplantation: what the radiologist needs to know. Acta Radiol Port. 2017;29:13–8.

8. Sugi MD, Joshi G, Maddu KK, et al. Imaging of renal transplant complications throughout the life of the allograft: comprehensive multimodality review. Radiographics. 2019;39:1327–55.










1. Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brasil
2. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil

a. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9813-3076
b. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7037-4700
c. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3226-8832
d. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2989-117X
e. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0596-5827
f. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-7278

Correspondence:

Dr. Alexandre Makoto Minoda
Rua das Pernambucanas, 315, Graças
Recife, PE, Brasil, 52011-010
E-mail: alexandreminoda@hotmail.com

Received 17 July 2020
Accepted after revision 18 September 2020