Ultrasonography Technique in Abdominal Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Measurement: A Systematic Review

J Ultrasound Med. 2019 Apr;38(4):877-888. doi: 10.1002/jum.14789. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Abstract

There are currently several reported techniques of sonographic subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurement described in the literature. This systematic review aims to report techniques of SAT measurement using ultrasonography. A systematic literature search was performed and identified 39 relevant articles using ultrasonography to quantify abdominal SAT. The following parameters were collected: type of measurement, ultrasound machine make/model, transducer frequency, external/internal landmarks, pressure applied on probe, special techniques and inter-/intraobserver reliability. Literature findings related to the above parameters were summarized. A summary of the most common techniques and parameters is provided, serving as a reference for a necessary standardized approach.

Keywords: abdominal; subcutaneous fat; ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*