Adipose tissue distribution in children: automated quantification using water and fat MRI
Joel Kullberg1, Ann-Katrine Karlsson, Eira Stokland
1Department of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
A new rapid magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method allows automated analysis of abdominal adipose tissue distribution in children. This technique provides a robust and time-efficient way to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Health
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Accurate assessment of abdominal adipose tissue distribution is crucial for understanding pediatric health.
- Traditional methods for measuring visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
- Developing efficient imaging techniques is essential for pediatric research and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a rapid magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method for analyzing abdominal adipose tissue distribution in children.
- To create an automated image processing algorithm for segmenting VAT and SAT.
- To assess the accuracy and efficiency of the automated method compared to semi-automated analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a rapid 2-point Dixon MR imaging technique (6 seconds) on a 1.5T scanner with an 8-channel cardiac coil.
- Included 21 healthy 5-year-old children (10 girls, 11 boys).
- Developed and applied an automated image processing algorithm for VAT and SAT segmentation, comparing results to semi-automated analysis.
Main Results:
- The automated method showed strong correlation (r >= 0.997) with reference measurements.
- Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) segmentation accuracy: TP 83.6 +/- 8.5%, FP 12.7 +/- 6.8%.
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) segmentation accuracy: TP 89.9 +/- 3.6%, FP 0.7 +/- 0.3%. SAT volume was underestimated by 9.4 +/- 3.8%.
Conclusions:
- A rapid MR imaging and automated postprocessing method for abdominal adipose tissue distribution in children has been successfully developed and validated.
- The presented method offers a robust and time-efficient solution for measuring VAT and SAT in pediatric populations.
- This technique facilitates reliable assessment of adipose tissue distribution, aiding in pediatric health research and clinical evaluations.
Purpose:
To develop and validate a method for rapid acquisition and automated processing of magnetic resonance (MR) images for analysis of abdominal adipose tissue distribution in children.
Materials And Methods:
The study included 21 (10 girls, 11 boys) healthy 5-year-old children. Rapid water and fat MR imaging (6 sec) was performed using a 2-point-Dixon technique on a 1.5T MR scanner using an 8-channel cardiac coil. An automated image processing algorithm was developed for automated segmentation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), respectively. The results from the fully automated analysis were compared to those from a semiautomated analysis, performed by three operators, from the same images.
Results:
The automated analysis was seen to give results with strong correlation to the reference measurements (r >or= 0.997); however, the SAT volume was underestimated by 9.4 +/- 3.8%. The accuracy of the automated segmentation of VAT and SAT (TP: true positive, FP: false positive, mean +/- SD, %) was TP: 83.6 +/- 8.5, FP: 12.7 +/- 6.8; and TP: 89.9 +/- 3.6, FP: 0.7 +/- 0.3, respectively.
Conclusion:
A method for rapid imaging and fully automated postprocessing of abdominal adipose tissue distribution is presented. The method allows robust and time-efficient measurement of adipose tissue distribution in young children.
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