Quantitative assessment of early Type 2 diabetic cataracts using T1,T2-mapping techniques

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of T1 and T2-mapping techniques in evaluating early Type 2 diabetic cataracts.

Totally, 28 patients with Type 2 diabetes was prospectively collected, and 28 non-diabetic patients were collected as control group. All patients included had ophthalmological exploration and all patients underwent orbital MRI examination with T1 and T2-mapping on a Siemens-Skyra 3.0T scanner. T1 and T2 values of the lens nucleus were measured by region of interest (ROI) method based on Siemens-Syngo workstation. Two sample t-test was used to analyze the differences between groups. Pearson correlations were calculated between relaxation time (T1, T2) and clinical variables, such as fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin etc. p < 0.01 was used to determine statistical significance.

In Type 2 diabetes group, the T1 value was 626.7 ± 56.8, T2 value was 29.4 ± 5.6. In non-diabetic group, the T1 value was 581.6 ± 64.7, T2 value was 24.8 ± 8.6. The T1 and T2 values of the lens in diabetic group were significantly higher than those in control group (p < 0.01, T1 value: 626.7 ± 56.8 vs 581.6 ± 64.7; T2 value: 29.4 ± 5.6 vs 24.8 ± 8.6). The T1 and T2 values of lens in diabetic patients were significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the correlation coefficients were 0.502 and 0.396, respectively.

T1 and T2-mapping technique can sensitively reflect the alterative relaxation time of lens in diabetic patients. This technique can find abnormal changes earlier than slit lamp, and may be effective diagnostic methods for early lens disease.

T1 and T2-mapping techniques may be effective diagnostic methods for early lens disease, which can detect abnormal changes earlier than slit lamp examination.