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Water-fat magnetic resonance imaging of adipose tissue compartments in the normal third trimester fetus

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Abstract

Background

Assessment of fetal adipose tissue gives information about the future metabolic health of an individual, with evidence that the development of this tissue has regional heterogeneity.

Objective

To assess differences in the proton density fat fraction (PDFF) between fetal adipose tissue compartments in the third trimester using water-fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods

Water-fat MRI was performed in a 1.5-T scanner. Fetal adipose tissue was segmented into cheeks, thorax, abdomen, upper arms, forearms, thighs and lower legs. PDFF and R2* values were measured in each compartment.

Results

Twenty-eight women with singleton pregnancies were imaged between 28 and 38 weeks of gestation. At 30 weeks’ gestation (n=22), the PDFF was statistically different between the compartments (P<0.0001), with the highest PDFF in cheeks, followed by upper arms, thorax, thighs, forearms, lower legs and abdomen. There were no statistical differences in the rate of PDFF change with gestational age between the white adipose tissue compartments (P=0.97). Perirenal brown adipose tissue had a different PDFF and R2* compared to white adipose tissue, while the rate of R2* change did not significantly change with gestational age between white adipose tissue compartments (P=0.96).

Conclusion

Fetal adipose tissue accumulates lipids at a similar rate in all white adipose tissue compartments. PDFF variances between the compartments suggest that accumulation begins at different gestational ages, starting with cheeks, followed by extremities, trunk and abdomen. Additionally, MRI was able to detect differences in the PDFF between fetal brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jennifer Ryder and Laura McMurphy for their help with recruitment, scheduling of MRIs and data collection. We also thank Samantha Bedell for her help in preparing this manuscript. Funding came from Western University’s Strategic Support for Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Success Program, Children’s Health Research Institute Translational Research Grant Fund, CIHR/Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health/Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada Maternal Fetal Medicine Team grant, University of Western Ontario Internal Schulich School–internal funding–dean’s support, Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI)/Children’s Health Foundation, Women’s Development Council (London Health Sciences Centre), and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Western University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Stephanie A. Giza, Simran Sethi & Charles A. McKenzie

  2. Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Tianna L. Koreman, Debbie A. Penava, Genevieve D. Eastabrook & Barbra de Vrijer

  3. Division of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Health, Children’s Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital, 800 Commissioner’s Road E, Room B2-412, London, ON, N6A 3B4, Canada

    Michael R. Miller, Debbie A. Penava, Genevieve D. Eastabrook, Charles A. McKenzie & Barbra de Vrijer

  4. Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Michael R. Miller

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Debbie A. Penava, Genevieve D. Eastabrook & Barbra de Vrijer

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  1. Stephanie A. Giza
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  2. Tianna L. Koreman
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  3. Simran Sethi
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Correspondence to Barbra de Vrijer.

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Giza, S.A., Koreman, T.L., Sethi, S. et al. Water-fat magnetic resonance imaging of adipose tissue compartments in the normal third trimester fetus. Pediatr Radiol 51, 1214–1222 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04955-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04955-z

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