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Computed tomographic evaluation of the thymus-does obesity affect thymic fatty involution in a healthy young adult population?
- Source :
-
The British journal of radiology [Br J Radiol] 2018 Sep; Vol. 91 (1089), pp. 20170609. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Mar 07. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Objective: To determine a relationship between increased body mass index (BMI) and fatty involution of the thymus in subjects aged between 20 and 30 years.<br />Methods: CT images of 94 patients aged between 20 and 30 years were reviewed. Quantitative thymic mean attenuation was recorded and qualitative thymic attenuation was assigned to 1 of 4 possible grades. BMI and subcutaneous fat thickness were documented. Correlations between thymic attenuation, and BMI and subcutaneous fat thickness were assessed using linear regression models. Differences in thymic attenuation in overweight vs normal weight patients were assessed using t-test and Pearson Χ <superscript>2</superscript> analysis.<br />Results: Low mean thymic attenuation values were associated with higher patient BMI (p = 0.024). Normal weight patients had a mean quantitative thymic attenuation of 15.5 Hounsfield unit and overweight patients had a mean quantitative thymic attenuation of -16.4 Hounsfield unit (p = 0.0218). There was a significant association between increasing subcutaneous fat thickness and reduced mean quantitative thymic attenuation (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference in subcutaneous fat thickness when comparing qualitatively assessed thymic Grade 0 with grades 2 and 3 (p = 0.027 and 0.001 respectively); and Grade 1 with Grade 3 (p = 0.001).<br />Conclusion: In patients between 20 and 30 years old, the degree of thymic fatty infiltration is related to BMI. Advances in knowledge: Multidetector CT can assess fatty involution of the thymus gland. This retrospective study demonstrates a relationship between BMI and thymus gland fatty involution. Subjects with increased subcutaneous fat have decreased mean thymus gland attenuation.
- Subjects :
- Adipose Tissue diagnostic imaging
Adult
Female
Humans
Male
Obesity diagnostic imaging
Obesity pathology
Retrospective Studies
Thymus Gland anatomy & histology
Thymus Gland pathology
Young Adult
Body Mass Index
Subcutaneous Fat anatomy & histology
Thymus Gland diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1748-880X
- Volume :
- 91
- Issue :
- 1089
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The British journal of radiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29356558
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20170609