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Accurate quantification of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) using water‐saturation MRI and computer segmentation: Preliminary results
Author(s) -
Armao Diane,
Guyon JeanPhilippe,
Firat Zeynep,
Brown Mark A.,
Semelka Richard C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.20551
Subject(s) - reproducibility , segmentation , saturation (graph theory) , water saturation , nuclear medicine , biomedical engineering , computer science , artificial intelligence , materials science , mathematics , medicine , statistics , combinatorics , porosity , composite material
Abstract Purpose To describe and evaluate the accuracy of water‐saturation MRI and a computer segmentation program for quantification of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Materials and Methods MRI was performed on five patients with whole‐volume coverage of the abdomen using two different sequences: 1) a T1‐weighted spoiled gradient‐echo breath‐hold sequence (non‐water‐saturation) and 2) a T1‐weighted spoiled gradient‐echo water‐saturation breath‐hold sequence (water‐saturation). The computer segmentation program analyzed the data and calculated VAT volumes (cm 3 ) from both sequences. The data from one patient were additionally processed with the use of a manual technique. The intrastudy reproducibility of the proposed method using the water‐saturation MRI sequence and the computer segmentation technique was tested by repeated measures of the automated system analysis (×10) on MRI data from a single subject to calculate variability. Results VAT volumes measured by the water‐saturation MRI sequences were consistently greater than those measured by the non‐water‐saturation sequences. Comparison of VAT volumes derived from the water‐saturation images and measured by the computer segmentation technique vs. the manual technique showed good correlation (K = 0.8), with a significant time‐saving benefit associated with the automated method (5 minutes vs. 1 hour). There was poor correlation between VAT volume measurement calculated by the manual technique and the computer segmentation technique using non‐water‐saturation images. The reproducibility of the computer segmentation technique using data derived from water‐saturation images was high, with a low variability (±5%). Conclusion The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed method may be able to provide accurate quantification of VAT in a highly reproducible and efficient manner. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.