Interindividual variation in abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue: influence of measurement site

We evaluated the influence of measurement site on the ranking ( low to high) of abdominal subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue. We also determined the influence of measurement site on the prediction of abdominal SAT and VAT mass. The subjects included 100 men with computed tomography (CT) measurements at L-4-L-5 and L-3-L-4 levels and 100 men with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements at L-4-L-5 and 5 cm above L-4-L-5 (L-4-L-5 +5 cm). Corresponding mass values were determined by using multiple-image protocols. For SAT, 90 and 92 of the 100 subjects for CT and MRI, respectively, had a difference in rank position at the two levels. The change in rank position exceeded the error or measurement for similar to75% of the subjects for both methods. For VAT, 91 and 95 of the 100 subjects for CT and MRI, respectively, had a difference in rank position at the two levels. The change in rank position exceeded the error of measurement for 36% of the subjects for CT and for 8% of the subjects for MRI. For both imaging modalities, the variance explained in SAT and VAT mass (kg) was comparable for L-4-L-5, L-4-L-5 +5 cm, and L-3-L-4 levels. In conclusion, the ranking of subjects for abdominal SAT and VAT quantity is influenced by measurement location. However, the ability to predict SAT and VAT mass by using single images obtained at the L-4-L-5, L-4-L-5 +5 cm, or L-3-L-4 levels is comparable.