What is the Hounsfield Unit (HU) range for adipose tissue or fat?

Adipose tissue, or fat, typically has a Hounsfield Unit (HU) range of approximately -50 to -100. The Hounsfield scale is a quantitative scale for describing radiodensity, with water being assigned a value of 0 HU. Materials that are less dense than water, such as fat, receive negative values, while denser materials receive positive values.

Fat is less dense compared to other tissues such as muscle or organs, which is why it has negative Hounsfield Unit values. This negative range reflects the low attenuation of X-rays by fat compared to more dense structures. Understanding this range is essential for interpreting CT images accurately, as it helps in differentiating fat from other tissues.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent the range of Hounsfield Units for fat. A value of 15 HU would indicate a tissue denser than water, while -550 to -950 HU corresponds to air or very low density materials, and 0 HU represents water. Therefore, the range of -50 to -100 HU for adipose tissue is the correct answer and is fundamental for understanding CT images.