Myosteatosis at diagnosis is adversely associated with 2-year survival in women with estrogen receptor-negative metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between skeletal muscle (SM) and cancer-specific outcomes for women with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). METHODS: For this retrospective cohort, females (≥ 18 years) with histologically confirmed ER- MBC and computerized tomography (CT) imaging were screened. Demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data were collected uniformly from the electronic medical record. CT images inclusive of the third lumbar region (L3) at diagnosis, 6 and 12 months, were used to classify sarcopenia (≤ 41 cm2/m2) and myosteatosis (< 41 or 33 Hounsfield Units, adjusted for body mass index (BMI)) and to evaluate changes in SM and total adipose tissue (TAT) over time. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox Proportional Hazards (PH), and restricted mean survival time (RMST) estimates were generated to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and myosteatosis and time to tumor progression (TTP), treatment toxicity and 2-year survival, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Participants were 58.0 (15.0) years of age, ethnically diverse (55% non-Hispanic white, 31% Black, 11% Hispanic), post-menopausal (73%, n = 111), and classified as overweight (BMI 29.4 (7.6)). At diagnosis, 40% (n = 61) were sarcopenic, 49% had myosteatosis, and 28% (n = 42) had both. While Cox PH modeling and RMST analysis reveal no significant relationship between sarcopenia at diagnosis and 2-year survival (RMST difference - 1.6 (1.4) months, HR 1.35 (0.88-2.08)), these analyses support a significant, adverse association between myosteatosis at diagnosis and 2-year survival (RMST difference - 2.4 (1.5) months, HR 1.72 (1.09-2.72)). Incident sarcopenia was 11% (n = 5/45) and 2.5% (n = 1/40), respectively, while incident myosteatosis was 19% (n = 8/42) and 15% (n = 5/34) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. TTP and treatment toxicities did not appear to be related to diagnostic SM or body composition changes over time. CONCLUSION: Targeted interventions initiated within the first year of diagnosis to preserve or improve SM quality seem warranted for women with ER-MBC.

Validation of Second-Generation Motion-Correction Software for Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography With Novel Quantitative Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography of the coronary arteries (CTCA) is an important diagnostic tool. However, motion degradation is sometimes a challenge to interpretation and quantification, particularly with elevated heart rates. Here, a novel quantitative method is presented as part of an evaluation of one particular motion correction algorithm. METHODS: Computed tomography of the coronary arteries scans from 49 patients, with heart rates of >70 bpm, were identified with motion artifacts in multiple coronary segments. At these foci (196), an objective measure of motion degradation, defined here by cross-section eccentricity, was determined before and after image processing with second-generation GE SnapShot Freeze software (SSF-2.0). In addition, a subjective scoring was applied by an expert cardiothoracic radiologist both before and after processing. RESULTS: An overall decrease in vessel eccentricity strongly correlated (P < 0.001) with processing of the images by motion-correction software. A concurrent overall increase in subjective vessel clarity correlated (P < 0.001) with application of the software as well. CONCLUSIONS: A novel quantitative method (and subjective analysis) for evaluation of CTCA motion has been described and applied to validation of SSF-2.0 motion-correction software. Both the technique and software demonstrate promise for robust clinical utility in CTCA evaluation.

Body Composition, Serum Biomarkers of Inflammation and Quality of Life in Clinically Stable Women with Estrogen Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Limited data exist regarding body composition and associated patient-reported outcomes for women with metastatic BC. Demographic, clinical, blood, and questionnaire data were collected to quantify body composition and explore associations with symptoms, inflammation, and quality of life (QOL) in 41 women with ER + metastatic BC. Diagnostic/surveillance computed tomography (CT) images including the third lumbar region (L3) were obtained to evaluate skeletal muscle (SM) quantity and quality, and abdominal adipose tissue. Frequencies, medians and interquartile ranges are presented, stratified by sarcopenia and obesity (Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Overall, 34% (n = 14/41), 49% (n = 20/41), and 34% (n = 14) of women had sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and obesity, respectively. Handgrip strength was compromised in 24% of subjects (n = 10/41). Women with sarcopenia had significantly lower body weight (P = 0.01), BMI (P ≤ 0.001), and whole body SM (P < 0.001), yet reported greater engagement in leisure time exercises (P = 0.05) vs. nonsarcopenic women. Women with obesity had significantly higher levels of abdominal obesity (all values P < 0.0001) and serum biomarkers of inflammation (P values <0.06), yet lower QOL (P = 0.02) vs. women without obesity. The abPGSGA did not differentiate women with sarcopenia. Future interventions should test if improvements in body composition are associated with better outcomes for this vulnerable, emerging population.

Applying the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria in patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection using computed tomography imaging.

BACKGROUND: Patients with low muscle mass and acute SARS-CoV-2 infection meet the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) etiologic and phenotypic criteria to diagnose malnutrition, respectively. However, available cut-points to classify individuals with low muscle mass are not straightforward. Using computed tomography (CT) to determine low muscularity, we assessed the prevalence of malnutrition using the GLIM framework and associations with clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was conducted gathering patient data from various clinical resources. Patients admitted to the COVID-19 unit (March 2020 to June 2020) with appropriate/evaluable CT studies (chest or abdomen/pelvis) within the first 5 days of admission were considered eligible. Sex- and vertebral-specific skeletal muscle indices (SMI; cm2 /m2 ) from healthy controls were used to determine low muscle mass. Injury-adjusted SMI were derived, extrapolated from cancer cut-points and explored. Descriptive statistics and mediation analyses were completed. RESULTS: Patients (n = 141) were 58.2 years of age and racially diverse. Obesity (46%), diabetes (40%), and cardiovascular disease (68%) were prevalent. Using healthy controls and injury-adjusted SMI, malnutrition prevalence was 26% (n = 36/141) and 50% (n = 71/141), respectively. Mediation analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in the effect of malnutrition on outcomes in the presence of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, supporting the mediating effects of severity of illness intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation, complex respiratory support, discharge status (all P values = 0.03), and 28-day mortality (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies involving the GLIM criteria should consider these collective findings in their design, analyses, and implementation.

Clinical Features and Body Composition in Men with Hormone-Sensitive Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Pilot Study Examining Differences by Race.

Black men treated with frontline therapies for metastatic prostate cancer (MPC) show better clinical outcomes than non-Black men receiving similar treatments. Variations in body composition may contribute to these findings. However, preliminary data are required to support this concept. We conducted a retrospective cohort study for all men with MPC evaluated at our center over a 4-year period, collecting demographic and clinical data (N = 74). Of these, 55 men had diagnostic computed tomography images to quantify adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, specifically sarcopenia and myosteatosis. Nineteen men had repeat imaging to explore changes over time. Frequencies, medians, interquartile ranges, and time to event analyses (hazard ratios (HR); confidence interval (CI)) are presented, stratified by race. Overall, 49% (n = 27) of men had sarcopenia, 49% (n = 27) had myosteatosis, and 29% (n = 16) had sarcopenia and myosteatosis simultaneously. No significant relationship between body mass index (Log-rank p=0.86; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.45-2.49) or sarcopenia (Log-rankp=0.92; HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.46-2.19) and overall survival was observed. However, the presence of myosteatosis at diagnosis was associated with decreased overall survival (Log-rank p=0.09; HR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.05-5.23), with more pronounced (statistically nonsignificant) negative associations for Black (HR: 4.39, 95% CI: 0.92-21.1, p=0.06) versus non-Black men (HR: 1.89, 95% CI: 0.79-4.54, p=0.16). Over the median 12.5 months between imaging, the median decline in skeletal muscle was 4% for all men. Black men displayed a greater propensity to gain more adipose tissue than non-Black men, specifically subcutaneous (p=0.01). Because of the potential for Type II errors in this pilot, future studies should seek to further evaluate the implications of body composition on outcomes. This will require larger, adequately powered investigations with diverse patient representation.

Fat embolism in the popliteal vein detected on CT: Case report and review of the literature.

Fat emboli are a common phenomenon, but are rarely detected or reported on extremity CT imaging. We present a case of fat embolus in the popliteal vein in the setting of a femoral fracture. This is the most distal fat embolus described in the literature. There are no guidelines regarding intervention if a fat embolus is detected in a peripheral vein on CT. A review of all the previous cases of peripheral fat emboli is presented for reference.

Practicality of exchanging transparent 3D CT for radiography for pelvic fractures.

OBJECTIVE: We assess the utility of transparent 3D reconstructed CT images for evaluation of traumatic pelvic bony injuries compared to traditional radiographs. METHODS: Radiographs and 3D reconstructed CT were anonymized and randomized before review by 4 board certified physicians using a standardized questionnaire and compared to a gold-standard axial CT by a fifth board certified physician. RESULTS: 49 patients were included. We found significant agreement (K=[0.5-0.92], p<0.001) and comparable accuracy (K=[0.36-0.38], p<0.02) and ghost images of radiographs and transparent 3D reconstructed CT without a difference in confidence (p=0.38). CONCLUSION: Transparent 3D reconstructed CT images may be sufficient for pelvic trauma injury without the use of radiographs.