Recent Efforts to Develop Imaging Methods and β -Cell-Specific Contrast Agents for Non-Invasive in vivo Assessment of β-Cell Mass

Accurate, non-invasive assessment of the endogenous pancreatic β-cell mass in humans is currently not feasible. The development of a non-invasive assay of β-cell mass would be invaluable in the study of the natural course of diabetes and ongoing attempts to preserve or restore β-cell mass in patients with diabetes. This article reviews imaging methods and radiolabeled ligands which have been proposed or used for non-invasive assessment of the endogenous β- cell mass and discusses patents and future directions for the development of β-cell specific contrast agents.