2.2 Imaging analysis
Radiological measurements were performed by two radiologists in
cooperation (RO, AGE), who were blinded to all clinical information of
patients. Contrast-enhanced (CT) images of all patients with 5 mm
section thickness at the venous phase were selected. For the
interpretation of each CT image, axial CT images oriented parallel to
superior and inferior endplates of L3 vertebrae were selected. The CT
images were evaluated via Region Growing application of Syngo.Via
Software (Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Germany). Within every
cross-sectional CT image, SMA, total adipose tissue (TAT), SAT and VAT
were determined separately and outlined semi-automatically. These
parameters were standadized according to the stature and represented in
units of cm2/m2 [VAT index (VATI),
superficial adipose tissue (SATI), TAT index (TATI), and SMA index
(SMI)], as described previously [19].