Comparative analysis of muscle quantification by sonography and computed tomography

Background and Aims Sarcopenia is associated with frailty and reduced quality of life. Especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, sarcopenia has a high impact on mortality. Currently, cumbersome diagnostics are needed to determine low muscle quantity. Sonographic muscle assessment is a simple option, which requires evaluation to be established for diagnostic workup. Therefore, this ongoing study is designated to identify normative age-adapted values of ultrasound muscle indices and compare them with established computed tomography (CT) measurements.

Methods Between March 2020 and July 2021, 355 patients with a median age of 62 were enrolled in the study. Muscle indices, including the psoas muscle area index (PMAI) and the psoas muscle thickness height index (PMTI), were quantified by sonography. Age strata of " < 60, 61–75 and > 75 years" were assessed. In 112 patients, sonographic measurements could be compared with corresponding CT measurements from the transversal section at lumbal level L3/4.

Results Muscle index measurements identified age-adjusted values for median PMAI (" < 60 years: 487.0mm/m; 61–75 years: 433.7mm/m; > 75 years: 384.1 mm/m") and median PMTI (" < 60 years: 18.8 mm/m, 61–75 years 18.2 mm/m; > 75 years: 17.3 mm/m"). PMTI ("r=0.545, p < 0.01") and PMAI ("r=0.565, p < 0.01") correlated best with CT measurements obtained at the level of L4. Sonographic muscle indices showed a progressive decline throughout aging.

Conclusion Sonographic muscle quantification is simple, inexpensive and could substitute CT morphometry. Especially, high-risk patients such as those with liver cirrhosis and other wasting entities could be screened.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. Januar 2022