| pubmed-article:1387459 | pubmed:abstractText | To assess the nutritional status of the patients with esophageal cancer, we measured the areas of sternocleidomastoid and rectus abdominis muscles (SMA, RAMA) on real time ultrasound imaging and calculated muscle index (MI = (SMA+RAMA/Height)). Eighty-three patients with esophageal cancer were included in the present study. Preoperatively, significant Spearman's coefficients were found between MI and the percentage of standard arm circumference (R = 0.52) and between MI and the percentage of standard arm muscle circumference (R = 0.51). Postoperatively, patients with wide muscle area showed high values of prealbumin, transferrin and fibronectin. To study the changes after surgery, we also measured the area of quadriceps muscle in patients with esophageal cancer. The areas of quadriceps muscle in patients with dysphagia were much diminished than in those without dysphagia. Measurement of areas of muscles such as SMA, RAMA and quadriceps muscle was proved to be a useful procedure in evaluating the nutritional status of patients with esophageal cancer. | lld:pubmed |
