title: Ultrasound measurement of pediatric visceral fat thickness: correlations with metabolic and liver profiles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abdominal obesity is a fundamental factor underlying the development of metabolic syndrome. Because of radiation exposure and cost, computed tomography or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to evaluate abdominal adiposity are not appropriate in children. Authors evaluated whether ultrasound results could be an indicator of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 73 subjects (aged 6-16 years) who were evaluated abdominal adiposity by ultrasound. Subcutaneous fat thickness was defined as the measurement from the skin-fat interface to the linea alba, and visceral fat thickness (VFT) was defined as the thickness from the linea alba to the aorta. Anthropometric and biochemical metabolic parameters were also collected and compared. The subjects who met 2 criteria, radiologic confirmed fatty liver and alanine aminotransferase >40, were diagnosed with NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong positive correlation between VFT and obesity. VFT was highly correlated with the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance score (r=0.403, P<0.001). The area under the curve for VFT as a predictor of NAFLD was 0.875 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.787-0.964). VFT of 34.3 mm was found to be the discriminating cutoff for NAFLD (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 71.2%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound could be useful in measuring VFT and assessing abdominal adiposity in children. Moreover, increased VFT might be an appropriate prognostic factor for insulin resistance and NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mo Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Reum
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Choon Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Sowha Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Abdominal obesity metabolic syndrome; Child; Fatty liver; Intra-abdominal fat; Ultrasonography