title: Epicardial adipose tissue: far more than a fat depot.
abstract: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) refers to the fat depot that exists on the surface of the myocardium and is contained entirely beneath the pericardium, thus surrounding and in direct contact with the major coronary arteries and their branches. EAT is a biologically active organ that may play a role in the association between obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD). Given recent advances in non-invasive imaging modalities such a multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), EAT can be accurately measured and quantified. In this review, we focus on the evidence suggesting a role for EAT as a quantifiable risk marker in CAD, as well as describe the role EAT may play in the development and vulnerability of coronary artery plaque.
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Talman
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Psaltis
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Sujith K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Seneviratne
authors.affiliation: 1 Monash Heart, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre & Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia ; 2 South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Dennis T L
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wong
keywords: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT); coronary artery disease (CAD); epicardial fat; multidetector computed tomography (MDCT)