Using Body Mass Index and Bioelectric Impedance Analysis to Assess the Need for Positive Oral Contrast Agents Before Abdominopelvic CT

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine whether body fat percentage, measured using a portable handheld bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) device, and body mass index (BMI, weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) can estimate the amount of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat and thereby predict the need for oral contrast material before abdominopelvic CT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A prospective, institutional review board–approved study consisting of 101 patients who presented to the emergency department of a level I trauma center was conducted between June 1, 2016, and July 19, 2016. A medical student calculated patients' BMI and obtained body fat measurements from a handheld BIA device. Three fellowship-trained and board-certified radiologists who were blinded to the collected data then assigned a score of 1–5 on the basis of the amount of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat seen on CT images. A McNemar test was used to compare overall sensitivity and specificity of th...