Perkins, Alan C.Mshelia, Dahiru S.Symonds, Michael E.Sathekge, Mike Machaba2014-06-232014-06-232013-02Perkins, AC, Mshelia, DS, Symonds, ME & Sathekge, MM 2013, 'Prevalence and pattern of brown adpose tissue distribution of 18F-FDG in patients undergoing PET-CT in a subtropical climatic zone', Nuclear Medicine Communications, vol. 34, no. 2, pp.168-174.0143-3636 (print)1473-5628 (online)10.1097/MNM.0b013e32835bbbf0http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40324BACKGROUND The uptake of 18F-FDG in brown adipose tissue (BAT) may have important implications in understanding the pathophysiology of BAT and obesity. Because of the thermal implications of BAT uptake of 18F-FDG, this study aimed to contribute to existing knowledge by assessing patients scanned in a subtropical environment with particular reference to ethnicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence and pattern of BAT uptake in patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging in a PET facility located in a subtropical climatic zone. Standardized uptake values were obtained for regions of BAT uptake of 18F-FDG, and the distribution pattern was assessed according to anatomical region, sex, age, BMI and ethnicity. RESULTS Following a reveiw of a total of 386 scans, 38 patients showed BAT uptake of 18F-FDG (9.85%), with the mass and activity of BAT being greater in women than in men (11.95 and 6.88%, respectively). BAT uptake of 18F-FDG in the neck/supraclavicular, axillary and mediastinal regions was greater in adults whose BMI was less than 18kg/m2. However, perirenal BAT activity was shown to be greater in obese individuals. The frequency of BAT uptake of 18F-FDG was 55% in winter as against 45% during summer (P<0.012). There was no statistical difference in BAT uptake between black and white patients. CONCLUSION This study shows the pattern and prevalence of BAT in patients in a subtropical environment. Although the average seasonal temperatures are higher in a subtropical climate, a seasonal variation in BAT expression was observed, although there were no differences with respect to patient ethnicity.en© 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Nuclear Medicine Communications, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 168-174, 2013. doi : 10.1097/MNM.0b013e32835bbbf0.Brown fat18F-FDG imagingPET imagingSubtropical climateBrown adipose tissue (BAT)Postprint Article