Measuring intramuscular fat

摘要

Dual-energy absorptiometry is used to estimate intramuscular adipose tissue metrics and display results, preferably as related to normative data. The process involves deriving x-ray measurements for respective pixel positions related to a two-dimensional projection image of a body slice containing intramuscular adipose tissue as well as subcutaneous adipose tissue, at least some of the measurements being dual-energy x-ray measurements, processing the measurements to derive estimates of metrics related to the intramuscular adipose tissue in the slice, and using the resulting estimates. Processing the measurements includes an algorithm which places boundaries of regions, e.g., a large region and a smaller region. The regions are combined in an equation that is highly correlated with intramuscular adipose tissue measured by quantitative computed tomography in order to estimate intramuscular adipose tissue.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
acquiring x-ray measurements for respective pixel positions related to a two-dimensional projection image of a portion of a subject, wherein at least some of the measurements are dual-energy x-ray measurements; placing a plurality of regions of the image; processing, utilizing a computer, to combine the plurality of regions to provide an estimate of intramuscular adipose tissue, wherein the computer processing comprises combining the plurality of regions to provide an estimate of intramuscular adipose tissue by correlating dual-energy x-ray measurements and computed tomography measurements using a linear equation using constants that provide correlation between dual-energy x-ray measured intramuscular adipose tissue and intramuscular adipose tissue measured by computed tomography; and providing and displaying selected results related to said estimate of intramuscular adipose tissue.