title: Measuring Abdominal Circumference and Skeletal Muscle From a Single Cross-Sectional Computed Tomography Image: A Step-by-Step Guide for Clinicians Using National Institutes of Health ImageJ.
abstract: Diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans provide numerous opportunities for body composition analysis, including quantification of abdominal circumference, abdominal adipose tissues (subcutaneous, visceral, and intermuscular), and skeletal muscle (SM). CT scans are commonly performed for diagnostic purposes in clinical settings, and methods for estimating abdominal circumference and whole-body SM mass from them have been reported. A supine abdominal circumference is a valid measure of waist circumference (WC). The valid correlation between a single cross-sectional CT image (slice) at third lumbar (L3) for abdominal SM and whole-body SM is also well established. Sarcopenia refers to the age-associated decreased in muscle mass and function. A single dimensional definition of sarcopenia using CT images that includes only assessment of low whole-body SM has been validated in clinical populations and significantly associated with negative outcomes. However, despite the availability and precision of SM data from CT scans and the relationship between these measurements and clinical outcomes, they have not become a routine component of clinical nutrition assessment. Lack of time, training, and expense are potential barriers that prevent clinicians from fully embracing this technique. This tutorial presents a systematic, step-by-step guide to quickly quantify abdominal circumference as a proxy for WC and SM using a cross-sectional CT image from a regional diagnostic CT scan for clinical identification of sarcopenia. Multiple software options are available, but this tutorial uses ImageJ, a free public-domain software developed by the National Institutes of Health.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gomez-Perez
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haus
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheean
authors.affiliation: John H. Stroger Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Bimal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mar
authors.affiliation: John H. Stroger Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKeever
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois braunsch@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braunschweig
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014481:United States; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: abdominal circumference; computed tomography; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle