Visceral and subcutaneous fat

Radiol Bras. 2014 Mai/Jun;47(3):IX Obesity is currently a public health problem, presenting prevalent exponential growth in all age groups, particularly in children and adolescents. Accumulation of visceral fat is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome (hypertension, dyslipidemia, type II diabetes) and insulin resistance. There is a greater correlation than that with body mass índex and abdominal circumference measurement. In obese patients, it is difficult to estimate the amount of visceral and subcutaneous fat. Methods utilized to evaluate visceral fat include bioelectrical impedance analysis, ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and body fat densitometry (DEXA). CT and DEXA have good sensitivity and specificity, but involve irradiation and their costs are high than the cost of US. MRI is excellent, but it is also more expensive than US. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is not a dominion of radiology and presents interferences, therefore US is the current method of choice.