Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness on non-gated chest CT as an alternative to EAT volume on cardiac CT

Abstract

Background

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is usually measured with ECG-gated computed tomography (CT). Measurement of EAT thickness is a more convenient method; however, it is not clear whether EAT thickness measured with non-gated CT is reliable and at which localization it agrees best with the EAT volume.

Purpose

To examine the agreement between ECG-gated EAT volume and non-gated EAT thickness measured from various localizations and to assess the predictive role of EAT thickness for high EAT volume.

Material and Methods

EAT thickness was measured at six locations using non-contrast thorax CT and EAT volume was measured using ECG-gated cardiac CT (n = 68). The correlation and agreement (Bland–Altman plots) between the thicknesses and EAT volume were assessed.

Results

EAT thicknesses were significantly correlated with EAT volume (P < 0.001). The highest correlation (r = 0.860) and agreement were observed for the thickness adjacent to the right ventricular free wall. Also, EAT thickness at this location has a strong potential for discriminating high (>125 cm³) EAT volume (area under the ROC curve=0.889, 95% CI=0.801–0.977; P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of EAT thickness for high EAT volume were 76.5%, 88.2%, 68.4%, and 91.8%, respectively, for the cutoff value of 5.75 cm; and 47.1%, 100%, 100%, and 85%, respectively, for the cutoff value of 8.10 cm.

Conclusion

EAT thickness measured on non-gated chest CT adjacent to the right ventricular free wall is a reliable and easy-to-use alternative to the volumetric quantification and has a strong potential to predict high EAT volume.