Muscle thickness from amplitude mode ultrasound and clinical outcomes in patients with cancer

The reduction of skeletal muscle mass in catabolic conditions, such as cancer, is linked to adverse outcomes. Assessing muscle health provides valuable prognostic information, aiding therapeutic decisions to improve survival and quality of life. A-mode ultrasound is a portable, low-cost tool for body composition assessment, particularly useful in resource-limited settings. This study investigated the association between A-mode ultrasound -derived muscle thickness and adverse outcomes, including mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and readmissions. We included 358 patients (53.6% women, 50.4% with gastrointestinal tumors, 42.5% with TNM stage IV). Muscle thickness was measured at the biceps (BMT) and thigh (TMT). Only BMT independently predicted 30-day and 6-month mortality. Each millimeter increase in BMT reduced 30-day mortality risk by 9% (95% CI 0.85-0.96) and 6-month mortality risk by 6% (95% CI 0.91-0.98). TMT had no predictive value. BMT measured by A-mode ultrasound is a predictor of poor survival in cancer, highlighting its value as a bedside tool for early risk identification and timely interventions. Further research is needed to validate these findings and refine protocols for broader clinical use.