Accuracy of surgeons for predicting radiological sarcopenia in colorectal cancer surgery

This study explored the performance of surgeons for predicting radiological sarcopenia as accessed by psoas cross-sectional area in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

A cross-sectional study was carried out and a diagnostic accuracy strategy was applied using the radiologist team assessment as gold standard.

Cohort analysis of 45 consecutive patients found that 31.1% had sarcopenia. Correlation of Total Psoas Index between radiologists and surgeons was very strong for the Junior and strong for the Senior surgeon, with a strong correlation between the surgeons. By the simplistic criterion, agreement between radiologists and surgeons was substantial for both the Junior and Senior surgeons, with a moderate level between the surgeons. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of Junior surgeon were 92.9%, 83.9%, 72.2%, 96.3%, and 86.7%, respectively. The corresponding results for the Senior surgeon were 78.6%, 90.3%, 78.6%, 90.3%, and 86.7%, respectively. We found no major differences on agreement levels and performance of surgeons using the composite criterion.

Surgeons seem to be accurate for identifying radiological sarcopenia in patients with CRC. The simplistic criterion should be preferred since a composite criterion adds complexity without increasing accuracy or agreement levels.