Assessment of Epicardial Fat Volume With Threshold-Based 3-Dimensional Segmentation in CT: Comparison With the 2-Dimensional Short Axis-Based Method

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the usefulness of a threshold-based, 3-dimensional (3D) segmentation in comparison with the traditional 2-dimensional (2D) short axis-based method for measurement of epicardial fat volume with 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS One hundred patients (52 males; mean age, 58.36+/-11.0 years) who underwent coronary CT angiography were enrolled in this study. The epicardial fat volume was measured using the two methods. The existing method was the 2D short axis-based method and the new method was the threshold-based 3D segmentation. Pearson's correlation was used to compare the two measurement methods. We also assessed the relationship between the epicardial fat volume and coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS There were a strong correlation between the epicardial fat volumes determined using the two methods (r=0.956, p<0.001). The mean overestimation of epicardial fat volume by the threshold-based 3D method was 59.89+/-12.00% compared to the 2D short-axis based method. Using the 3D method, the epicardial fat volume was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the controls (165.07+/-48.22 cm(3) vs. 108.39+/-48.03 cm(3), p<0.001). CONCLUSION Threshold-based 3D segmentation is another easy and useful tool for measuring the epicardial fat volume.