A systematic review of imaging studies of human brown adipose tissue
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is involved in energy dissipation and has been linked to weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and reduced risk of atherosclerotic disease. BAT is found most often in the supraclavicular region, as well as mediastinal and paravertebral areas, and it is predominantly seen in young persons. BAT is activated by cold temperature and the sympathetic nervous system. In humans, BAT was initially detected via 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18 F]fluoro‐d‐glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), a high‐resolution molecular imaging modality used to identify and stage malignancies. Recent studies have shown that BAT can be localized using conventional imaging modalities, such as CT or magnetic resonance imaging, as well as radiotracers used for single‐photon emission CT. In this systematic review, we have summarized the evidence for BAT detection in humans using various imaging techniques.
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3DPS, PET, and SPECT are comparatively costly and complex imaging tools that assess adiposity and some physiological functions.
“Three-dimensional photonic scanning (3DPS), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are comparatively costly and complex imaging tools that assess adiposity and some physiological functions [67].”
From Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity (2024) · cites this paper as [67]
Combining advanced body composition analysis with comprehensive blood variables offers a promising strategy for improving obesity assessment at the population level and advancing personalized healthcare approaches to combat obesity and its related health consequences.
“Combining advanced body composition analysis with comprehensive blood variables offers a promising strategy for improving obesity assessment at the population level and advancing personalized healthcare approaches to combat obesity and its related health consequences [61,67].”
From Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity (2024) · cites this paper as [67]
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“The exclusion criteria were: (1) articles outside the scope of interest; (2) studies performed on animal models; and (3) review articles, case reports, editorials or letters, comments, or conference proceedings.”
BackgroundLow brown adipose tissue activity in endurance-trained compared with lean sedentary men
Vosselman, M. J., Hoeks, J., Brans, B., Pallubinsky, H., Nascimento, E. B. M., van der Lans, A. A. J. J., Broeders, E. P. M., Mottaghy, F. M., Schrauwen, P., & van Marken Lichtenbelt, W. D. (2015) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.130 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
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Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity
Wu, Y., Li, D., & Vermund, S. H. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21060757 · Cited by 332 · see citing works
“Three-dimensional photonic scanning (3DPS), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are comparatively costly and complex imaging tools that assess adiposity and some physiological functions [67].”
Background
- Authors
- Santhanam, P., Rowe, S. P., Solnes, L. B., Quainoo, B., & Ahima, R. S.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland
- George Washington University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Santhanam, Prasanna
- Venue
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-02-18
- Volume
- 1495
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-23
- ISSN
- 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
- 1749-6632
- OpenAlex
- W3130117436
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- brown adipose tissue, FDG PET/CT, cold exposure, sympathetic nervous system, radioactive tracers, single-photon emission CT, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, energy dissipation, weight loss, insulin sensitivity, atherosclerosis risk
- MeSH terms
- Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography, Blood Glucose, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Obesity, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon, Adipocytes, Brown
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