Computed tomography-defined low skeletal muscle index and density in cancer patients: observations from a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Computed tomography (CT) analysis of body composition has garnered interest as a potential prognostic tool in those with cancer. A range of pre-defined thresholds currently exist within the literature to define low skeletal muscle mass and density. The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the prevalence of low skeletal muscle index (SMI) and density (SMD) within the literature, across a range of common solid tumours.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed was carried out to identify studies reporting CT analysis of SMI and SMD in patients with colorectal, oesophageal, gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, breast, and lung cancer. The type of cancer, whether curative or non-curative disease, the anthropomorphic parameter studied, threshold used to define

SUBMITTER: McGovern J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8718024 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature