title: Quantitative Analysis of Lower Leg Adipose Tissue Distribution in Youth with Myelomeningocele.
abstract: Children with myelomeningocele have a high prevalence of obesity and excess fat accumulation in their lower extremities. However, it is not known if this is subcutaneous or intramuscular fat, the latter of which has been associated with insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. This study quantified lower leg bone, muscle, and adipose tissue volume in children with myelomeningocele, classifying adipose as subcutaneous or muscle-associated. Eighty-eight children with myelomeningocele and 113 children without myelomeningocele underwent lower leg computed tomographic scans. Subcutaneous and muscle-associated adipose were classified based on location relative to the crural fascia. No differences were seen in subcutaneous adipose. Higher level disease severity was associated with increased muscle-associated adipose volume and decreased muscle volume. Bone volume tended to decrease with higher levels of involvement. Increases in lower leg adiposity in children with myelomeningocele are primarily attributable to accumulation of muscle-associated adipose, which may signify increased risk for metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lorenzana
authors.affiliation: Children's Orthopaedic Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA nmueske@chla.usc.edu.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Mueske
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Children's Orthopaedic Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Deirdre D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Van Speybroeck
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA Children's Orthopaedic Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tishya A L
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wren
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009929:Organ Size; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: adipose tissue; myelomeningocele; spina bifida; tissue distribution; tissue volume