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Brown fat distribution in the chest wall of infants—normal appearance, distribution and evolution on CT scans of the chest

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Abstract

Background

While reviewing chest CT scans of infants, we repeatedly observed hyperdense enhancing tissue in the chest wall that is not well described in radiology literature.

Objective

This study was undertaken to describe the imaging features of this tissue in chest walls of infants.

Materials and methods

CT scans of the chest conducted on all infants between April 2008 and October 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. CT studies with any deviation from normal radiation or contrast dose or those with chest wall anatomical distortion were excluded.

Results

One hundred eighty-eight infants were scanned, with 202 MDCTs, of which 180 (89.1%) received contrast agent. Fifty-four of 180 (30%) cases revealed focal areas of hyperdensity in various locations. All positive cases ranged between 2 days and 9 months of age. The areas of distribution of hyperdensity had excellent correlation with known areas of brown fat in the chest wall, known from nuclear medicine studies, and hence we concluded these to represent the same.

Conclusion

Brown fat in the chest wall can be seen as enhancing tissue on contrast CT scans done on infants. This is a normal morphological component with the brown fat converting to normal fat. It is important to recognize it in the chest wall of infants to avoid misinterpretation.

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Author notes

  1. Paul S. Babyn

    Present address: Department of Medical Imaging, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Canada, M5G 1X8

    Priya Gupta, Paul S. Babyn, Amer Shammas & Stephen F. Miller

Authors
  1. Priya Gupta
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  2. Paul S. Babyn
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  3. Amer Shammas
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  4. Stephen F. Miller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Priya Gupta.

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Gupta, P., Babyn, P.S., Shammas, A. et al. Brown fat distribution in the chest wall of infants—normal appearance, distribution and evolution on CT scans of the chest. Pediatr Radiol 41, 1020–1027 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2085-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2085-4

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