Detection of Brown Adipose Tissue by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BAT_PET/MRI)

Assessment of MRI Accuracy for the Detection of Brown Adipose Tissue Using [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (Fluorodeoxyglucose) -PET as a Gold Standard

The primary goal of this study is to assess the accuracy of conventional fat fraction proton MRI for the detection of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) in healthy subjects using [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (fluorodeoxyglucose) -PET as gold standard.

In this pilot study, MRI and PET imaging of BAT of healthy adult volunteers will be performed on a combined PET/MRI scanner under mild cold condition.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Brown Adipose Tissue

Detailed Description

In the fight against obesity, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is considered to be the newest target. The hypothesis is that this tissue is partially responsible for the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure that keeps lean people lean and obese people obese.

The detection of this tissue in adult humans represents an unmet need. BAT is difficult to detect and measurements of tissue fat fraction performed by magnetic resonance imaging have been proposed as a mean to differentiate the highly hydrated brown fat from the less hydrated white adipose tissue and from muscle.

To this end, the objective of this study is to assess the accuracy of magnetic resonance fat fraction measurements for the detection of BAT volume in adult humans, while using PET with fluorodeoxyglucose as gold standard.

For this study subjects will undergo a combined MRI/PET scan. The scans will be done during stimulation of thermogenic activity by mild cold exposure.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 8

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-7513
      • Biomedical Research Imaging Center
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
      • Biomedical Research Imaging Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy adult human with a BMI <28

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Each subject must be fully informed and have signed consent.
• BMI < 34
• Normal neurological and psychological development / able to give consent
• Willingness to participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects less than 18 years of age
• Severe claustrophobia
• Women who are pregnant, nursing an infant or planning to become pregnant in the next 30 days
• People who have a condition that makes MRI unsafe for them (for example, cardiac pacemaker, epicardial pacemaker leads, cochlear implants, metal aneurysm clip, iron filings in your eyes or metal halo devices)
• Have had radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the 2 months prior to PET scan
• Subjects are taking medications that may interfere with BAT detection

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Healthy Volunteers; Healthy volunteers exposed to cold to activate brown fat

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Average dice similarity coefficient	The average dice similarity coefficient will be measured to assess the overlap between MRI and PET maps	Up to 1 year after the imaging scan

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Collaborators: North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rosa Tamara Branca, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 20, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 27, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): August 27, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 9, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 9, 2014
• First Posted (Estimated): September 11, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Brown Adipose Tissue; MRI and PET detection of brown adipose tissue
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-1980

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No