Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to define an optimal CT number range applicable to adipose tissue (AT) measurement in modern PET/CT systems.
Methods
CT number (in Hounsfield units, HU) was measured in three different pure AT compartments in 53 patients. CT number range for AT was determined in three different ways, including pixel histogram analysis, to take the effect of partial volume averaging into account. The effect of changing the CT number range for AT on the total AT volume was investigated.
Results
The lower limits for CT number for pure subcutaneous AT, retroperitoneal AT, and visceral AT were −140, –140, and −130 HU, respectively. The corresponding upper limits were −70, –71, and −52 HU. The CT number range for AT using three methods when considering partial volume averaging was −144 to −141 HU to −30 to −33 HU, showing similar values between the three methods. The optimal CT number range for AT based on these data was −140 to −30 HU. Increases in total AT volume of 7.5 % and 1.8 % were found when the upper or lower limit was extended using 10 HU intervals, respectively, compared with the reference range of −140 to −30 HU.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that the optimal CT number range of AT that is applicable to modern PET/CT systems can be defined as −140 to −30 HU. The use of this CT number range of AT allowed lean body mass to be determined in whole-body F-18 FDG PET/CT studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kim D-W, Kim C, Park S-A, Jung S-A. Experience of dual time point brain F-18 FDG PET/CT Imaging in patients with infectious disease. Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2010;44(2):137–42.
Kim J, Kim H, Kim J, Moon D, Kim Y, Kim D, et al. 18F-FDG PET/CT is useful for pretreatment assessment of the histopathologic type of thymic epithelial tumors. Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2010;44(3):177–84.
Bellisari A, Roche AF. Anthropometry and ultrasound. In: Heymsfield SB, Lohman TG, Wang Z, Going SB, editors. Human body composition. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2005. p. 109–27.
Chowdhury B, Sjostrom L, Alpsten M, Kostanty J, Kvist H, Lofgren R. A multicompartment body composition technique based on computerized tomography. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1994;18(4):219–34.
Wang ZM, Pierson Jr RN, Heymsfield SB. The five-level model: a new approach to organizing body-composition research. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992;56(1):19–28.
Ross R, Leger L, Guardo R, De Guise J, Pike BG. Adipose tissue volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography in rats. J Appl Physiol (Bethesda, Md: 1985). 1991;70(5):2164–72.
Mitsiopoulos N, Baumgartner RN, Heymsfield SB, Lyons W, Gallagher D, Ross R. Cadaver validation of skeletal muscle measurement by magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography. J Appl Physiol (Bethesda, Md: 1985). 1998;85(1):115–22.
Rossner S, Bo WJ, Hiltbrandt E, Hinson W, Karstaedt N, Santago P, et al. Adipose tissue determinations in cadavers—a comparison between cross-sectional planimetry and computed tomography. Int J Obes. 1990;14(10):893–902.
Seidell JC, Bakker CJ, van der Kooy K. Imaging techniques for measuring adipose-tissue distribution–a comparison between computed tomography and 1.5-T magnetic resonance. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(6):953–7.
Sjostrom L, Kvist H, Cederblad A, Tylen U. Determination of total adipose tissue and body fat in women by computed tomography, 40K, and tritium. Am J Physiol. 1986;250(6 Pt 1):E736–45.
Mattsson S, Thomas BJ. Development of methods for body composition studies. Phys Med Biol. 2006;51(13):R203–28.
Ross R. Advances in the application of imaging methods in applied and clinical physiology. Acta Diabetol. 2003;40 Suppl 1:S45–50.
Busetto L, Baggio MB, Zurlo F, Carraro R, Digito M, Enzi G. Assessment of abdominal fat distribution in obese patients: anthropometry versus computerized tomography. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1992;16(10):731–6.
Christen T, Sheikine Y, Rocha VZ, Hurwitz S, Goldfine AB, Di Carli M, et al. Increased glucose uptake in visceral versus subcutaneous adipose tissue revealed by PET imaging. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2010;3(8):843–51.
Grauer WO, Moss AA, Cann CE, Goldberg HI. Quantification of body fat distribution in the abdomen using computed tomography. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984;39(4):631–7.
Kvist H, Sjostrom L, Tylen U. Adipose tissue volume determinations in women by computed tomography: technical considerations. Int J Obes. 1986;10(1):53–67.
Liem ET, De Lucia Rolfe E, L’Abee C, Sauer PJ, Ong KK, Stolk RP. Measuring abdominal adiposity in 6 to 7-year-old children. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(7):835–41.
Yoshizumi T, Nakamura T, Yamane M, Islam AH, Menju M, Yamasaki K, et al. Abdominal fat: standardized technique for measurement at CT. Radiology. 1999;211(1):283–6.
Barrett JF, Keat N. Artifacts in CT: recognition and avoidance. Radiographics. 2004;24(6):1679–91.
Mahnken AH, Raupach R, Wildberger JE, Jung B, Heussen N, Flohr TG, et al. A new algorithm for metal artifact reduction in computed tomography: in vitro and in vivo evaluation after total hip replacement. Investig Radiol. 2003;38(12):769–75.
Yazdi M, Beaulieu L. Artifacts in spiral X-ray CT scanners: problems and solutions international. J Biol Life Sci. 2008;4(3):135–9.
Martin AD, Daniel MZ, Drinkwater DT, Clarys JP. Adipose tissue density, estimated adipose lipid fraction and whole body adiposity in male cadavers. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1994;18(2):79–83.
Schoen RE, Evans RW, Sankey SS, Weissfeld JL, Kuller L. Does visceral adipose tissue differ from subcutaneous adipose tissue in fatty acid content? Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1996;20(4):346–52.
Viljanen AP, Lautamaki R, Jarvisalo M, Parkkola R, Huupponen R, Lehtimaki T, et al. Effects of weight loss on visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue blood-flow and insulin-mediated glucose uptake in healthy obese subjects. Ann Med. 2009;41(2):152–60.
Rogalla P, Meiri N, Hoksch B, Boeing H, Hamm B. Low-dose spiral computed tomography for measuring abdominal fat volume and distribution in a clinical setting. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1998;52(8):597–602.
van der Kooy K, Seidell JC. Techniques for the measurement of visceral fat: a practical guide. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1993;17(4):187–96.
Basic anatomical and physiological data for use in radiological protection: reference values. A report of age- and gender-related differences in the anatomical and physiological characteristics of reference individuals. ICRP Publication 89. Ann ICRP. 2002;32(3–4):5–265.
Wang ZM, Deurenberg P, Guo SS, Pietrobelli A, Wang J, Pierson Jr RN, et al. Six-compartment body composition model: inter-method comparisons of total body fat measurement. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998;22(4):329–37.
Demura S, Sato S. Prediction of visceral fat area in Japanese adults: proposal of prediction method applicable in a field setting. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007;61(6):727–35.
Acknowledgment
This study was supported by Wonkwang University in 2010.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, W.H., Kim, C.G. & Kim, DW. Optimal CT Number Range for Adipose Tissue When Determining Lean Body Mass in Whole-Body F-18 FDG PET/CT Studies. Nucl Med Mol Imaging 46, 294–299 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-012-0175-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-012-0175-3