Osteosarcopenia predicts poor prognosis for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after hepatic resection.

PURPOSE

The concept of osteosarcopenia, which is concomitant osteopenia and sarcopenia, has been proposed as a prognostic indicator for cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of osteosarcopenia in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).

METHODS

The subjects of this retrospective study were 41 patients who underwent hepatic resection for IHCC. Osteopenia was assessed with pixel density in the mid-vertebral core of the 11th thoracic vertebra and sarcopenia was assessed by the psoas muscle areas at the third lumbar vertebra. Osteosarcopenia was defined as the concomitant occurrence of osteopenia and sarcopenia. We analyzed the association of osteosarcopenia with disease-free and overall survival and evaluated clinicopathologic variables in relation to the osteosarcopenia.

RESULTS

Eighteen (44%) of the 41 patients had osteosarcopenia. Multivariate analysis identified osteosarcopenia (hazard ratio 3.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.49-7.68, p < 0.01) as an independent predictor of disease-free survival, and age ≥ 65 years (p = 0.03) and osteosarcopenia (hazard ratio 6.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.76-23.71, p < 0.01) as independent predictors of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative osteosarcopenia may be a predictor of adverse prognosis for patients undergoing hepatic resection for IHCC, suggesting that preoperative management to maintain muscle and bone intensity could improve the prognosis.