Adipose tissue magnetic resonance imaging in the newborn

Infancy is a period of rapid adipose tissue accumulation, and influences during early development are plausible determinants of altered adiposity. The distribution, as well as the quantity of adipose tissue, is a marker of health and disease. Previous methods for the assessment of body composition in infants have been indirect and thus unable to determine adipose quantity reliably, nor assess adipose tissue distribution. Adipose tissue magnetic resonance imaging is direct, non-invasive, radiation free and suitable for serial examinations in infancy. Adipose tissue depots are quantified individually and summated to provide an accurate measure of depot-specific and total adiposity. We have adapted this technique for application to newborns and, to date, have imaged over 100 term and preterm infants