Journal issues > Issue 6, October 2022 > The impact of sarcopenia in oncology Patients

The impact of sarcopenia in oncology Patients

By: N. Baczewska MD, C. van Marcke MD, R. Poncin MD, L. Duck MD

SUMMARY

Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength and plays an increasingly important role in the management of oncology patients. Sarcopenia is frequently mislabelled as malnutrition or cachexia. Clinicians lack a consensus definition of easy-to-use, straightforward, reliable diagnostic tools to optimally recognise sarcopenia. This review will broadly go through the current literature in order to define sarcopenia, as well as to understand its mechanisms. Helpful diagnostic tools will be discussed, which can be used to optimise the management of patients suffering from a malignant disease. This review will also illustrate how sarcopenia is an independent negative predictive and prognostic factor regarding survival and quality of life, directly impacting toxicity and efficacy of oncological treatments.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2022;16(6):274–8)

To read the full artice you have the following options:

* (only possible for healthcare professionals with RIZIV/INAMI/MATRICULE working in the field of Oncology/Hemato-oncology in Belgium and Luxembourg with prescription authorisation)

Purchase this article for €3.03

** (for healthcare professionals with prescribing authorisation working outside the field of Oncology/Hemato-oncology in Belgium and Luxembourg as well as those without prescribing authorisation working as healthcare professional in Oncology/Hemato-oncology in Belgium and Luxembourg, plus persons without prescription authorisation working outside Belgium and Luxembourg, plus healthcare professionals with prescribing authorisation outside Belgium and Luxembourg plus non-healthcare professionals from outside or inside Belgium or Luxembourg)

Top