RELIABILITY OF B-MODE ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENTS OF SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE-TISSUE AND INTRAABDOMINAL DEPTH - COMPARISONS WITH SKINFOLD THICKNESSES

Adipose tissue deposits, particularly intra-abdominal adipose tissue, are associated with health risks such as diabetes mellitus and cardiov ascular disease. Anthropometric techniques currently in use can measur e subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with skinfold calipers, but are li mited to certain sites and cannot measure intra-abdominal adipose tiss ue (IAAT). Radiography, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic reso nance imaging (MRI) have been used, but they are expensive and some in volve exposure to radiation. This study, which investigated the utilit y of B-mode ultrasound for measuring adipose tissue, found that ultras onic measurements of SAT were as reliable as skinfold caliper measurem ents. Intra-observer and inter-observer coefficients of reliability fo r five of six ultrasonic measurements of SAT ranged from 91-98%, in co mparison with coefficients of reliability ranging from 93-98% for thre e skinfold measurements. Coefficients of reliability for ultrasonic me asurements of SAT at the paraspinal site were below 90%. Ultrasonic me asurements of intra-abdominal depth (IAD), an index of IAAT, yielded a n inter-observer coefficient of reliability of 64%. Ultrasound is reco mmended for measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue but not for mea surement of IAD.