Open AccessHigh‐frequency ultrasound measurement of dermis and subcutaneous fat in the newborn infant
Author(s) -
Petersen Jes Reinholdt,
Petersen Sten,
Serup Jørgen
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0846.1995.tb00023.x
Subject(s) - calipers , ultrasound , subcutaneous fat , medicine , skinfold thickness , skin thickness , dermis , skin fold , ultrasonography , subcutaneous tissue , high frequency ultrasound , nuclear medicine , biomedical engineering , body weight , anatomy , surgery , radiology , anthropometry , adipose tissue , mathematics , geometry
Background/aims: Skin thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness of newborn infants may reflect the condition of the infant including prematurity. Skin thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness might be useful parameters to characterize and monitor the nutritional state of the infant. The objective was to introduce ultrasonography for this purpose. Methods: A high‐frequency (20 MHz) ultrasound A‐mode scanner was employed. Skinfold caliper recordings were performed for comparison. Frontal skin and skin of the back were studied in 7 infants with body weight 1095‐4750 g (also studied with B‐mode scanning). 46 infants weighing 925‐4120 g were studied and correlated with skinfold recording. Results: A high degree of correlation between skinfold recordings and ultrasound measurements (A‐mode) of subcutaneous fat was found, coefficient of correlation 0.84, p <0.001. Conclusions: High‐frequency ultrasound measurement of skin and subcutaneous fat thickness is precise and reliable for in vivo assessment of body fat in newborn infants. Further validation of the technique relative to neonatal skin and nutritional state is, however, needed before the ultrasound technique can be used as routine in neonatalogical monitoring.