RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Visualization of Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue Using 99mTc-Tetrofosmin in Pediatric Patients JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 1582 OP 1585 VO 44 IS 10 A1 Kazuki Fukuchi A1 Yasuo Ono A1 Yayoi Nakahata A1 Yoko Okada A1 Kohei Hayashida A1 Yoshio Ishida YR 2003 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/44/10/1582.abstract AB Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a site of nonshivering thermogenesis in mammals. The mitochondria of BAT operate in an uncoupled mode and increase fatty acid oxidation to produce heat at birth. Thus, the BAT of human infants and children contains more active mitochondria than that of adults. We surmised that because 99mTc-tetrofosmin can be absorbed by functional mitochondria in the myocardium and in tumor cells, it could reveal mitochondrial function in BAT. Methods: Between January 1999 and December 2002, we retrospectively analyzed 385 consecutive studies of 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake in pediatric patients with cardiac disorders. All patients with symmetric 99mTc-tetrofosmin accumulation within the neck and shoulder region according to planar images were selected, and the features of the uptake were analyzed. Results: Increased symmetric 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake in the interscapular BAT was a typical profile of 65 of the 385 patients (17%). The frequency of 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake was significantly higher in winter than in spring or summer (P < 0.05) and prominent in newborns. The frequency peaked between 0 and 2 y of age and then declined with age. Conclusion: Gamma-camera imaging with 99mTc-tetrofosmin can reveal interscapular BAT distribution in infants and children in terms of mitochondrial activity.