Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (대한소아소화기영양학회)
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Quantitative Analysis of Pancreatic Fat in Children with Obesity Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography

  • Lee, Mu Sook (Department of Radiology, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Jeong Sub (Department of Radiology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Bong Soo (Department of Radiology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Doo Ri (Department of Radiology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kang, Ki Soo (Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2021.05.11
  • Accepted : 2021.08.04
  • Published : 2021.11.15
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Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with and without obesity and to correlate PFF with body mass index (BMI) z-score, hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and ultrasonography-derived pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI). Methods: This prospective study included 45 children with obesity and 19 without obesity (control group). PFF and HFF were quantitatively assessed using the abdominal multi-echo Dixon method for MRI. The PPHFI was assessed using transabdominal ultrasonography. Anthropometric, MRI, and ultrasonographic characteristics were compared between the two groups. Correlations between PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-scores in each group were also analyzed. Results: The PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-score were higher in the group with obesity than in the control group (PFF: 6.65±3.42 vs. 1.78±0.55, HFF: 19.5±13.0 vs. 2.31±1, PPHFI: 3.65 ±1.63 vs. 0.94±0.31, BMI z-score: 2.27±0.56 vs. 0.42±0.54, p<0.01, respectively). PFF was correlated with BMI z-scores, PPHFI, and HFF in the obesity group, and multivariate analysis showed that PFF was strongly correlated with BMI z-score and PPHFI (p<0.05). The BMI z-score was strongly correlated with PFF in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that MRI-derived PFF measures are associated with childhood obesity. PFF and PPHFI were also highly correlated in the obesity group. Therefore, PFF may be an objective index of pancreatic fat content and has the potential for clinical utility as a non-invasive biomarker for the assessment of childhood obesity.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a research grant from Jeju National University Hospital in 2017 (No. 2017-05).

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