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Osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia on abdominal CT: a review of epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies for the reporting radiologist

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An Erratum to this article was published on 05 August 2017

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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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  • 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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Correspondence to Timothy É. Murray.

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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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