Measurement of Muscle Mass and Sarcopenia Using Anthropometry, Bioelectrical Impedance, and Computed Tomography in Surgical Patients with Colorectal Malignancy: Comparison of Agreement Between Methods

Nutr Cancer. 2020;72(6):1074-1083. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2019.1659381. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

Abstract

Background: Low skeletal muscle index (SMI) and sarcopenia adversely affect clinical outcomes in oncology patients. Study aims were to assess the agreement of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), and computed tomography (CT) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), for the measurement of muscle mass and identification of sarcopenia, in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Method: A comparison study of low SMI and sarcopenia determined by BIA and MAMC, compared to CT. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated.Results: CT scans were obtained for 100 participants. Low SMI was identified in 29%, 57%, and 20% of participants using CT at L3, BIA, and MAMC, respectively. For low muscle mass BIA showed 60% of participants were correctly classified (AUC 0.619, sensitivity 80%, specificity 52%, kappa 0.241, P = 0.009) and for MAMC, 73% of participants were correctly classified (AUC 0.625, sensitivity 38%, specificity 88%, kappa 0.286, P = 0.005). There were 14%, 31%, and 10% of participants identified as having sarcopenia from CT, BIA, and MAMC, respectively.Conclusions: Both BIA and MAMC show a poor level of agreement for measuring muscle mass compared to CT scans using L3 in patients with CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Body Composition
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Electric Impedance
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Sarcopenia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sarcopenia* / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed