In theory, CT-derived body composition assessments would provide an opportunity for earlier interventions in patients who face a higher risk of adverse health events.

Body composition assessments taken from chest CT also present an opportunity for artificial intelligence-derived algorithms that could quickly and automatically add risk assessment to the imaging report.


"I expect that more studies in the future will begin looking at all information on the CT, rather than just one organ at a time," Dr. Bluemke said. "Clinicians will need thresholds when to intervene when fat or bone abnormalities become severe."

The study was just the latest to tap into imaging data from the MESA trial, a collaboration involving more than 6,000 men and women from six communities across the United States.


"Quantitative Analysis of Adipose Depots by Using Chest CT and Associations with All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Longitudinal Analysis from MESArthritis Ancillary Study." Collaborating with Drs. Bluemke, Pishgar and Demehri were Mahsima Shabani, M.D., M.P.H., Thiago Quinaglia A. C. Silva, M.D., Ph.D., Matthew Budoff, M.D., R. Graham Barr, M.D., Dr.P.H., Matthew A. Allison, M.D., M.P.H., Wendy S. Post, M.D., M.S., and João A. C. Lima, M.B.A., M.D.

Radiology is edited by David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.


About RSNA
RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Back to HCB News

CT Homepage