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Insights into Imaging
Published in: Insights into Imaging 4/2015

Open Access 01-08-2015 | Review

Imaging body composition in cancer patients: visceral obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity may impact on clinical outcome

Authors: Connie Yip, Charlotte Dinkel, Abhishek Mahajan, Musib Siddique, Gary J. R. Cook, Vicky Goh

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 4/2015

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the influence of body composition on oncological patient outcomes. Visceral obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity have been identified as adverse factors in cancer patients. Imaging quantification of body composition such as lean muscle mass and fat distribution is a potentially valuable tool. This review describes the following imaging techniques that may be used to assess body composition: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT and MRI are acquired as part of oncological patient care, thus providing an opportunity to integrate body composition assessment into the standard clinical pathway and allowing supportive care to be commenced as appropriate to improve outcome.

Main Messages

• Sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity and visceral obesity are adverse prognostic factors in cancer patients.
• CT and MRI are the current gold standard in body composition evaluation.
• Body composition may affect chemotherapy tolerance and toxicities.
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Metadata
Title
Imaging body composition in cancer patients: visceral obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity may impact on clinical outcome
Authors
Connie Yip
Charlotte Dinkel
Abhishek Mahajan
Musib Siddique
Gary J. R. Cook
Vicky Goh
Publication date
01-08-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Insights into Imaging / Issue 4/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-015-0414-0

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