Effects of Sarcopenia on Prognosis After Resection of Gallbladder Cancer

This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of radiographic sarcopenia (RS) in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC).

From March 2001 to December 2013, 158 GBC patients who underwent curative intent surgery were included. The presence of RS was determined by skeletal muscle mass index using abdominal computed tomography.

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 63.6%, 41.9%, and 36.4%, respectively, for patients with RS (n = 88), and 84.3%, 62.6%, and 54.3%, respectively, for those without RS (n = 70) (P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that RS (hazard rate [HR] 1.704, P = 0.024) was a significant prognostic factor for patient survival, as well as disease stage (IV: HR 7.181, P < 0.001), radicality (HR 2.830, P = 0.001), adjuvant therapy (HR 0.537, P = 0.017), and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 1 L (HR 1.851, P = 0.023).

This study showed a significant association between RS and OS in GBC patients. Because RS is the only significant prognostic factor that can be evaluated preoperatively, its assessment would be helpful to provide early preventive therapy allowing the maintenance of muscle mass and patient-tailored treatment based on their physiologic reserves (e.g., skeletal muscle mass).