Whole-body adipose tissue analysis: comparison of MRI, CT and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate a recently proposed MRI-based T(1)-mapping method for analysis of whole-body adipose tissue (AT) using an established CT protocol as reference and to include results from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). 10 subjects, drawn from the Swedish Obese Subjects Sibling-pairs study, were examined using CT, MRI and DEXA. The CT analysis was based on 28 imaged slices. T(1) maps were calculated using contiguous MRI data from two different gradient echo sequences acquired using different flip angles. CT and MRI comparison was performed slice-wise and for the whole-body region. Fat weights were compared between all three modalities. Strong correlations (r > or = 0.977, p<0.0001) were found between MRI and CT whole-body and AT volumes. MRI visceral AT volume was underestimated by 0.79 +/- 0.75 l (p = 0.005), but total AT was not significantly different from that estimated by CT (MRI - CT = -0.61+/-1.17 l; p = 0.114). DEXA underestimated fat weights by 5.23 +/- 1.71 kg (p = 0.005) compared with CT. MRI underestimated whole-body volume by 2.03 +/- 1.61 l (p = 0.005) compared with CT. Weights estimated either by CT or by DEXA were not significantly different from weights measured using scales. In conclusion, strong correlations were found between whole-body AT results from CT, MRI-based T(1) mapping and DEXA. If the differences between the results from T(1)-mapping and CT-based analysis are accepted, the T(1)-mapping method allows fully automated post-processing of whole-body MRI data, allowing longitudinal whole-body studies that are also applicable for children and adolescents.

Changes in fat and skeletal muscle with exercise training in obese adolescents: Comparison of whole‐body MRI and dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry

“…At baseline, DXA significantly underestimated total fat by −3.1 kg and the differences increased in magnitude with increases in total fat. These findings are similar to a previous observation in adults by Kullberg et al who showed that DXA underestimated total fat by −5.23 kg and −4.7 kg as compared to both whole‐body CT and MRI, respectively. In this study, DXA was able to detect significant reductions in total fat, but not changes in LBM with exercise.…”

Changes in fat and skeletal muscle with exercise training in obese adolescents: Comparison of whole‐body MRI and dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry

“…At baseline, DXA significantly underestimated total fat by −3.1 kg and the differences increased in magnitude with increases in total fat. These findings are similar to a previous observation in adults by Kullberg et al who showed that DXA underestimated total fat by −5.23 kg and −4.7 kg as compared to both whole‐body CT and MRI, respectively. In this study, DXA was able to detect significant reductions in total fat, but not changes in LBM with exercise.…”

Restless legs syndrome and its association with lower extremity adipose tissue thickness: a novel perspective

“…Future studies should employ more objective methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to evaluate the muscle-to-adipose tissue ratio and their relationship with exercise in the legs more accurately. 31,32 Vitamin D and iron metabolism, particularly ferritin and iron, show a strong correlation with RLS, which corroborates previous research. According to our findings, albumin levels are significantly lower in RLS patients.…”

Direct Determination of Lean Body Mass by CT in F-18 FDG PET/CT Studies: Comparison with Estimates Using Predictive Equations

“…On average (the mean difference or bias), LBM CT2 and LBM PE2 are almost identical. This may suggest that AT mass calculated by CT (i.e., the LBM CT2 model) and body fat mass measured by the traditional criterion method using hydrodensitometry, on which PE2 is based, may also be very similar, as previously reported by many investigators (1.24 % difference between AT and fat mass in the current study) [11,19]. In this regard, the current study could be regarded as a validation study for PEs.…”

Changes in fat and skeletal muscle with exercise training in obese adolescents: Comparison of whole‐body MRI and dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry

“…At baseline, DXA significantly underestimated total fat by −3.1 kg and the differences increased in magnitude with increases in total fat. These findings are similar to a previous observation in adults by Kullberg et al who showed that DXA underestimated total fat by −5.23 kg and −4.7 kg as compared to both whole‐body CT and MRI, respectively. In this study, DXA was able to detect significant reductions in total fat, but not changes in LBM with exercise.…”

Restless legs syndrome and its association with lower extremity adipose tissue thickness: a novel perspective

“…Future studies should employ more objective methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to evaluate the muscle-to-adipose tissue ratio and their relationship with exercise in the legs more accurately. 31,32 Vitamin D and iron metabolism, particularly ferritin and iron, show a strong correlation with RLS, which corroborates previous research. According to our findings, albumin levels are significantly lower in RLS patients.…”

Direct Determination of Lean Body Mass by CT in F-18 FDG PET/CT Studies: Comparison with Estimates Using Predictive Equations

“…On average (the mean difference or bias), LBM CT2 and LBM PE2 are almost identical. This may suggest that AT mass calculated by CT (i.e., the LBM CT2 model) and body fat mass measured by the traditional criterion method using hydrodensitometry, on which PE2 is based, may also be very similar, as previously reported by many investigators (1.24 % difference between AT and fat mass in the current study) [11,19]. In this regard, the current study could be regarded as a validation study for PEs.…”

Changes in fat and skeletal muscle with exercise training in obese adolescents: Comparison of whole‐body MRI and dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry

“…At baseline, DXA significantly underestimated total fat by −3.1 kg and the differences increased in magnitude with increases in total fat. These findings are similar to a previous observation in adults by Kullberg et al who showed that DXA underestimated total fat by −5.23 kg and −4.7 kg as compared to both whole‐body CT and MRI, respectively. In this study, DXA was able to detect significant reductions in total fat, but not changes in LBM with exercise.…”

Restless legs syndrome and its association with lower extremity adipose tissue thickness: a novel perspective

“…Future studies should employ more objective methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to evaluate the muscle-to-adipose tissue ratio and their relationship with exercise in the legs more accurately. 31,32 Vitamin D and iron metabolism, particularly ferritin and iron, show a strong correlation with RLS, which corroborates previous research. According to our findings, albumin levels are significantly lower in RLS patients.…”

Direct Determination of Lean Body Mass by CT in F-18 FDG PET/CT Studies: Comparison with Estimates Using Predictive Equations

“…On average (the mean difference or bias), LBM CT2 and LBM PE2 are almost identical. This may suggest that AT mass calculated by CT (i.e., the LBM CT2 model) and body fat mass measured by the traditional criterion method using hydrodensitometry, on which PE2 is based, may also be very similar, as previously reported by many investigators (1.24 % difference between AT and fat mass in the current study) [11,19]. In this regard, the current study could be regarded as a validation study for PEs.…”