Variability of abdominal adipose tissue measurements using computed tomography in prepubertal girls

OBJECTIVE: To determine the variability of measuring regional adipose tissue area using abdominal computed tomography (CT) in normal-weight, prepubertal girls. DESIGN: Measurements of abdominal CT were performed twice, 6 weeks apart. SUBJECTS: Sixty-one normal-weight, prepubertal girls (age: 4.8 ‐10.3 y, mean (s.d.) BMI: 16.7 1.5 kg/m 2 ). MEASUREMENTS: Abdominal adipose tissue by CT at baseline and 6 weeks later. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between visits 1 and 2 with regard to the children’s average abdominal CT derived intraabdominal adipose tissue (21.64 cm 2 vs 23.74 cm 2 ) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (62.49 cm 2 vs 65.28 cm 2 ). The Pearson coefficient of correlation (r), P-value, total coefficient of variation (CV) and standard error of the difference (SED) for intra-individual measurements between visits 1 and 2 by abdominal CT were: total abdominal adipose tissue, ra 0.94, P< 0.0001, CVa 12.34%, SED 2.25 cm 2 ; subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, ra 0.96, P< 0.0001, CVa 10.67%, SEDa 1.57 cm 2 ; and intraabdominal adipose tissue, ra 0.67, P< 0.0001, CVa 21.5%, SEDa 1.11 cm 2 . The mean ratios of intraabdominal to subcutaneous adipose tissue on visits 1 and 2 were 0.42 0.2 and 0.44 0.24, respectively. CONCLUSION: Regional adipose tissue area measurements using abdominal CT were reliable in healthy, normalweight, prepubertal girls.