Abstract
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) is a widely performed examination, with many indications. Assessment of bone, fat, and muscle on abdominal CT can be performed in a quantitative manner. Published studies have developed diagnostic cutoffs for osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia, which are summarized with pictorial examples. The epidemiological and prognostic significance of these disease states are outlined. Further diagnostic steps and treatment strategies are outlined to inform both the managing clinician and reporting radiologist. This article summarizes an unglamorous yet information-rich field, which is ripe for assessment in the dawning era of personalized medicine, and one in which the radiologist is well placed to add value to patient care.
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Change history
05 August 2017
An erratum to this article has been published.
Abbreviations
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- BMD:
-
Bone mineral density
- DXA:
-
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- DECT:
-
Dual-energy CT
- QCT:
-
Quantitative CT
- HU:
-
Hounsfield unit
- AVF:
-
Abdominal visceral fat
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- HDL:
-
High-density lipoprotein
- TFT:
-
Thyroid function tests
- LFT:
-
Liver function tests
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An erratum to this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1274-5.
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Murray, T.É., Williams, D. & Lee, M.J. Osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia on abdominal CT: a review of epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies for the reporting radiologist. Abdom Radiol 42, 2376–2386 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1124-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1124-5