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Body Composition Metrics Associated with Time to Progression in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Fabian Bauer1,2,3, Florian A Huber1,4, Marilyn E Galdamez1,5,6
1Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Higher subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) quantity in smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients is linked to a longer time to progression (TTP) to multiple myeloma (MM). SAT may serve as a prognostic marker for SMM progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is a precursor to active multiple myeloma (MM).
- Predictive markers for SMM progression are crucial for patient management.
- Body composition (BC) metrics may offer novel prognostic insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body composition (BC) in SMM patients and their time to progression (TTP) to MM.
- To identify specific BC parameters that could predict disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 63 whole-body low-dose computed tomography (WBLDCT) scans.
- Body composition analysis using cross-sectional imaging at the L4 vertebrae level.
- Cox proportional hazard models to assess the relationship between BC metrics and TTP.
Main Results:
- Thirty subjects progressed to MM during the follow-up period.
- Higher subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) cross-sectional area (CSA) and SAT index were associated with a significantly longer TTP.
- High SAT index remained a significant predictor of reduced progression risk in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) quantity, specifically its cross-sectional area and index, shows potential as a prognostic marker for progression in SMM.
- Body composition metrics, particularly SAT, may aid in risk stratification for SMM patients.
- Further research is warranted to validate SAT as a reliable prognostic indicator in SMM.
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