Whole-body MRI-based fat quantification: a comparison to air displacement plethysmography.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the feasibility of an algorithm for MRI whole-body quantification of internal and subcutaneous fat and quantitative comparison of total adipose tissue to air displacement plethysmography (ADP).


METHODS
For comparison with ADP, whole-body MR data of 11 volunteers were obtained using a continuously moving table Dixon sequence. Resulting fat images were corrected for B1 related intensity inhomogeneities before fat segmentation.


RESULTS
The performed MR measurements of the whole body provided a direct comparison to ADP measurements. The segmentation of subcutaneous and internal fat in the abdomen worked reliably with an accuracy of 98%. Depending on the underlying model for fat quantification, the resultant MR fat masses represent an upper and a lower limit for the true fat masses. In comparison to ADP, the results were in good agreement with ρ ≥ 0.97, P < 0.0001.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole-body fat quantities derived noninvasively by using a continuously moving table Dixon acquisition were directly compared with ADP. The accuracy of the method and the high reproducibility of results indicate its potential for clinical applications.
Department of Radiology - Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Ute A
UA
Ludwig
Florian
F
Klausmann
Sandra
S
Baumann
Matthias
M
Honal
Jan-Bernd
JB
Hövener
Daniel
D
König
Peter
P
Deibert
Martin
M
Büchert
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
Dixon imaging; air-displacement plethysmography; continuously moving table MRI; fat quantification; subcutaneous adipose tissue; visceral adipose tissue