Imaging Techniques to Determine Degree of Sarcopenia and Systemic Inflammation in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.

The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date understanding regarding the literature on sarcopenia and inflammation as prognostic factors in the context of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Sarcopenia is increasingly recognized as a prognostic factor in RCC.

Emerging literature suggests monitoring quantity of muscle on successive imaging and examining muscle density may be additionally informative. Inflammation has prognostic ability in RCC and is also considered a key contributor to development and progression of both RCC and sarcopenia. Recent studies suggest these two prognostic factors together may provide additional prognostic ability when used in combination. Ongoing developments include quality control regarding sarcopenia research and imaging, improving understanding of muscle loss mechanisms, and enhancing clinical incorporation of sarcopenia via improving imaging analysis practicality (i.e., artificial intelligence) and feasible biomarkers. Sarcopenia and systemic inflammation are complementary prognostic factors for adverse outcomes in patients with RCC. Further study on high-quality sarcopenia assessment standardization and expedited sarcopenia assessment is desired for eventual routine clinical incorporation of these prognostic factors.

Current urology reports. 2023 Apr 10 [Epub ahead of print]

Benjamin N Schmeusser, Adil A Ali, Florian J Fintelmann, Jose M Garcia, Grant R Williams, Viraj A Master, Sarah P Psutka

Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Road NE, Building B, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA., Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA., Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA., Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA., Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Road NE, Building B, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. ., Department of Urology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Stree, Box 356510, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. .

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