Three-dimensional comparison of intramuscular fat content between young and old adults

• Published in: BMC medical imaging 2017-02, Vol.17 (1), p.12-12, Article 12
• Main Authors: Yoshiko, Akito, Hioki, Maya, Kanehira, Nana, Shimaoka, Kiyoshi, Koike, Teruhiko, Sakakibara, Hisataka, Oshida, Yoshiharu, Akima, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Female; Hamstring Muscles - anatomy & histology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Quadriceps Muscle - anatomy & histology; Subcutaneous Fat - anatomy & histology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2342; 1471-2342
• DOI: 10.1186/s12880-017-0185-9

Fat infiltration within skeletal muscle is known as intramuscular fat (IMF), which increases with aging. Studies have assessed IMF content, using the mid-thigh as a representative location. However, three-dimensional IMF distribution is not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare the IMF content in young and old adults by assessing its distribution along the length of the thigh. Consecutive transaxial images of the right thighs in 15 young (age, 21.0 ± 0.4) and 15 old (age, 70.7 ± 3.8) were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. We measured IMF cross-sectional area (CSA), skeletal muscle CSA and calculated volume- and CSA-based IMF content for the quadriceps femoris (QF), hamstring (HM) and adductor (AD). CSA-based calculations were performed at every 10% of femur length (Lf), with 0% Lf and 100% Lf indicating the proximal and distal ends of femur. IMF CSAs along the length of the thigh were similar in both age groups. In contrast, skeletal muscle CSAs in all three muscle groups were significantly lower in old adults than in young adults (variation: -15.2 to -1.6 cm , P