RSNA 2005 

Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2005


LPB13-01

Serum Glucose Levels Are Reduced in Patients with FDG Uptake in "USA-Fat" (Brown Fat)

Scientific Posters

Presented on November 27, 2005
Presented as part of LPB13: Nuclear Medicine (Lung Cancer, Lymphoma, and Staging with PET, SPECT, and Hybrid Techniques)

Participants

Heather Alison Jacene MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Christian Cohade MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Richard Leo Wahl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

PURPOSE

Cohade et al has previously reported on USA-Fat in 1,017 patients referred for PET/CT imaging with an incidence of 6.7% (Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2003;44:170-176). Guerra et al (Journal of Clinical Investigations. 2001;108:1205-1213) reported that brown adipose tissue (BAT) in insulin receptor knockout mice was reduced and that these mice developed age-dependent glucose intolerance. They suggest a possible role for BAT in the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in their model. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in blood glucose levels in patients previously identified as having or not having USA-Fat.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

This study was a retrospective review of 1,016 reports from consecutive FDG PET/CT scans obtained between July 2001 and June 2002. Images have previously been reviewed for the presence or absence of FDG uptake in USA-Fat, and the results reported by our group. Two scans were excluded as they did not include complete whole body images, therefore, 1,014 scan reports were evaluated. The patients height, weight, and blood glucose level at the time of the scan were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) for each patient was calculated using the following equation: weight (kg)/height (m2). Blood glucose levels and BMI at the time of FDG PET/CT scan were compared between those scans with the presence of the USA-Fat pattern and those without USA-Fat. Statistical analyses were performed using a two-tailed paired t-test. Differences were considered significant for p<0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 1,014 scans, blood glucose levels and height were each unavailable in 1 patient. The mean blood glucose levels (mg/dl) ± standard deviation for those patients with and without FDG uptake in the USA-Fat were 90.28 ± 11.27 (range 54-126) and 99.48 ± 22.23 (range 54-228), respectively (p<0.01). There was no correlation between BMI and blood glucose levels in patients with or without FDG uptake in USA-Fat (r=0.23 and 0.20, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Blood glucose levels are significantly lower in patients identified as having FDG uptake in USA-Fat as compared to those without USA-Fat. These data suggest a role for brown fat in diabetes causation.

DISCLOSURE

R.L.W.: 1) GE Medical Systems, Commerical grants and honorarium 2) Philips, Honorarium 3) CPS Innovations, Honorarium 4) Cardinal Health, Honorarium 5) Nihon-Medi-Physics Corporation, Consultant 6) Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Consultant 7) National Cancer Institute, Research support:

PURPOSE

Cohade et al has previously reported on USA-Fat in 1,017 patients referred for PET/CT imaging with an incidence of 6.7% (Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2003;44:170-176). Guerra et al (Journal of Clinical Investigations. 2001;108:1205-1213) reported that brown adipose tissue (BAT) in insulin receptor knockout mice was reduced and that these mice developed age-dependent glucose intolerance. They suggest a possible role for BAT in the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in their model. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in blood glucose levels in patients previously identified as having or not having USA-Fat.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

This study was a retrospective review of 1,016 reports from consecutive FDG PET/CT scans obtained between July 2001 and June 2002. Images have previously been reviewed for the presence or absence of FDG uptake in USA-Fat, and the results reported by our group. Two scans were excluded as they did not include complete whole body images, therefore, 1,014 scan reports were evaluated. The patients height, weight, and blood glucose level at the time of the scan were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) for each patient was calculated using the following equation: weight (kg)/height (m2). Blood glucose levels and BMI at the time of FDG PET/CT scan were compared between those scans with the presence of the USA-Fat pattern and those without USA-Fat. Statistical analyses were performed using a two-tailed paired t-test. Differences were considered significant for p<0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 1,014 scans, blood glucose levels and height were each unavailable in 1 patient. The mean blood glucose levels (mg/dl) ± standard deviation for those patients with and without FDG uptake in the USA-Fat were 90.28 ± 11.27 (range 54-126) and 99.48 ± 22.23 (range 54-228), respectively (p<0.01). There was no correlation between BMI and blood glucose levels in patients with or without FDG uptake in USA-Fat (r=0.23 and 0.20, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Blood glucose levels are significantly lower in patients identified as having FDG uptake in USA-Fat as compared to those without USA-Fat. These data suggest a role for brown fat in diabetes causation.

DISCLOSURE

R.L.W.: 1) GE Medical Systems, Commerical grants and honorarium 2) Philips, Honorarium 3) CPS Innovations, Honorarium 4) Cardinal Health, Honorarium 5) Nihon-Medi-Physics Corporation, Consultant 6) Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Consultant 7) National Cancer Institute, Research support:

Cite This Abstract

Jacene, H, Cohade, C, Wahl, R, Serum Glucose Levels Are Reduced in Patients with FDG Uptake in "USA-Fat" (Brown Fat).  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4415922.html