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Brown Adipose Tissue pp 299–324Cite as

Techniques and Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Studying Brown Adipose Tissue Morphometry and Function

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Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 251))

Abstract

The present review reports on the current knowledge and recent findings in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) of brown adipose tissue (BAT). The work summarizes the features and mechanisms that allow MRI to differentiate BAT from white adipose tissue (WAT) by making use of their distinct morphological appearance and the functional characteristics of BAT. MR is a versatile imaging modality with multiple contrast mechanisms as potential candidates in the study of BAT, targeting properties of 1H, 13C, or 129Xe nuclei. Techniques for assessing BAT morphometry based on fat fraction and markers of BAT microstructure, including intermolecular quantum coherence and diffusion imaging, are first described. Techniques for assessing BAT function based on the measurement of BAT metabolic activity, perfusion, oxygenation, and temperature are then presented. The application of the above methods in studies of BAT in animals and humans is described, and future directions in MR study of BAT are finally discussed.

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Acknowledgment

The present work was supported by the European Research Council (grant agreement No 677661, ProFatMRI), the German Research Foundation (DFG-SFB824/A9), and Philips Healthcare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Dimitrios C. Karampinos, Dominik Weidlich, Mingming Wu & Daniela Franz

  2. Department of Radiology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    Houchun H. Hu

Authors
  1. Dimitrios C. Karampinos
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  2. Dominik Weidlich
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  3. Mingming Wu
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  4. Houchun H. Hu
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  5. Daniela Franz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dimitrios C. Karampinos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Alexander Pfeifer

  2. Institute of Molecular Nutritional Medicine, TU München, Freising, Bayern, Germany

    Martin Klingenspor

  3. Institute for Diabetes and Cancer IDC, Helmholtz Center München, Neuherberg, Germany

    Stephan Herzig

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Karampinos, D.C., Weidlich, D., Wu, M., Hu, H.H., Franz, D. (2018). Techniques and Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Studying Brown Adipose Tissue Morphometry and Function. In: Pfeifer, A., Klingenspor, M., Herzig, S. (eds) Brown Adipose Tissue. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 251. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2018_158

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