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Advances in the application of fat quantification techniques based on CT and MRI in general population cohorts
HUANG Shengqian  ZHANG Daming  WANG Qin  XUE Huadan  JIN Zhengyu 

DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.034.


[Abstract] Adipose tissue is widely distributed throughout the human body and plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolism. Basic anthropometric indicators such as body mass index are insufficient for precisely assessing fat distribution. CT- and MRI-based fat quantification techniques enable accurate measurement of adipose tissue in specific depots, including subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, liver fat, and muscle fat, which has been widely applied in large-scale general population cohorts. Previous studies have comprehensively revealed the associations between the distribution patterns of different adipose tissue depots and various diseases, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, thereby broadening our understanding of the heterogeneity of fat distribution and its health implications. Existing reviews on fat quantification often focus on a specific technique or a particular disease, lacking an integrated perspective from population studies that synthesizes recent advances. This article introduces the principles of CT- and MRI-based fat quantification techniques, reviews their application in quantifying major fat depots within large general population cohorts, discusses current limitations and future directions, and aims to provide new insights for the application of fat quantification techniques in population-based research.
[Keywords] body composition；fat quantification；computed tomography；magnetic resonance imaging；general population cohort

HUANG Shengqian   ZHANG Daming   WANG Qin   XUE Huadan*   JIN Zhengyu  

Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China

Corresponding author: XUE H D, E-mail: bjdanna95@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-10-27
Accepted  2025-12-30
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.034
DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.034.

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