Korean Circ J.  2010 Jul;40(7):328-333. 10.4070/kcj.2010.40.7.328.

Assessment of Epicardial Fat Volume With Threshold-Based 3-Dimensional Segmentation in CT: Comparison With the 2-Dimensional Short Axis-Based Method

• Park MJ
• Jung JI
• Oh YS
• Youn HJ

• KMID: 2225176
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2010.40.7.328

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
We aimed to assess the usefulness of a threshold-based, 3-dimensional (3D) segmentation in comparison with the traditional 2-dimensional (2D) short axis-based method for measurement of epicardial fat volume with 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
One hundred patients (52 males; mean age, 58.36+/-11.0 years) who underwent coronary CT angiography were enrolled in this study. The epicardial fat volume was measured using the two methods. The existing method was the 2D short axis-based method and the new method was the threshold-based 3D segmentation. Pearson's correlation was used to compare the two measurement methods. We also assessed the relationship between the epicardial fat volume and coronary artery disease (CAD).
RESULTS
There were a strong correlation between the epicardial fat volumes determined using the two methods (r=0.956, p<0.001). The mean overestimation of epicardial fat volume by the threshold-based 3D method was 59.89+/-12.00% compared to the 2D short-axis based method. Using the 3D method, the epicardial fat volume was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the controls (165.07+/-48.22 cm3 vs. 108.39+/-48.03 cm3, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Threshold-based 3D segmentation is another easy and useful tool for measuring the epicardial fat volume.

Keyword

Pericardium; Tomography, X-ray computed; Visceral fats; Coronary artery disease

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Coronary Artery Disease
Humans
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Pericardium
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Epicardial fat area measurement using 2-dimensional short axis-based method as the known method. A: on the short axis view, the region of interest (ROI; red line) is drawn around the pericardium in order to determine the epicardial fat area (green). B: the epicardial fat area is automatically measured by a histogram-based analysis (CT attenuation range between -200 HU and -30 HU). The epicardial fat area of this case is 735 m2. HU: Hounsfield unit.

• 

  Fig. 2 Epicardial fat volume measurement using threshold-based 3-dimensional (3D) segmentation as the new method. A: the initial 3D volumetric data obtained not only intrathoracic fat, but also extrathoracic fat tissue (CT attenuation range between -200 HU and -30 HU). B: for the accurate measurement of the epicardial fat volume, we compared it to the corresponding 2-dimensional axial image. C: surface shaded display image demonstrates 3D epicardial fat volume (gray color). HU: Hounsfield unit.

• 

  Fig. 3 Correlation dot plot of the epicardial fat volume in both methods. The correlation dot plot shows the strong correlation of each epicardial fat volumes measured using the two different methods (r=0.956, p<0.001); the x-axis indicates the 3D volume measurement (3D) and the y-axis denotes 2D short-axis based method (2D). 2D: 2-dimensional, 3D: 3-dimensional.

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