Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
13:35
Segmentation and Linear Measurement for Body Composition Analysis using Slice-O-Matic and Horos
Published on: March 21, 2021
10.9K
Association between CT-Based Preoperative Sarcopenia and Outcomes in Patients That Underwent Liver Resections
David Martin1, Yaël Maeder2, Kosuke Kobayashi3
1Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Cancers
|January 11, 2022
Summary
Preoperative sarcopenia identified by CT scans did not affect liver resection outcomes or survival. Further research should include muscle strength and performance for better patient risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Radiology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is increasingly recognized as a significant comorbidity.
- Preoperative assessment of sarcopenia is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes, particularly in major procedures like liver resections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between preoperative sarcopenia, assessed via CT imaging, and postoperative clinical outcomes and overall survival in patients undergoing liver resection.
- To determine if skeletal muscle index (SMI) on CT scans can predict patient outcomes after liver surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study including 355 patients who underwent liver resection between January 2014 and February 2020.
- Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) was measured from preoperative CT scans at the third lumbar vertebra.
- Preoperative sarcopenia was defined using established SMI cut-off values.
Main Results:
- 59.7% of patients exhibited preoperative sarcopenia, with these patients being older and having lower BMIs.
- No significant differences were observed in length of hospital stay (LOS) or major complication rates between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups.
- Median overall survival times were comparable, with 15 months for sarcopenic patients versus 16 months for non-sarcopenic patients.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative sarcopenia, as assessed by CT imaging alone, does not appear to impact postoperative clinical outcomes or overall survival following liver resections.
- Future risk stratification strategies should integrate imaging findings with assessments of muscle strength and physical performance.
