Effect of Muscle Mass Loss After Esophagectomy on Prognosis of Oesophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM To assess the prognostic effect of muscle loss after esophagectomy and before discharge. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study retrospectively analysed 159 consecutive patients with oesophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer who underwent esophagectomy between August 2011 and October 2015. Body composition was evaluated one week before surgery and at discharge using a bioelectrical impedance analyser. RESULTS The median rate of muscle mass loss (RMML) was 4.38% (range=-3.3 to +18.8). Patients with increased RMML had significantly poorer outcomes of overall survival than those with decreased RMML (p=0.015). On multivariate analysis, RMML [≥4.38, hazard ratio (HR)=2.033, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.018-5.924, p=0.044) and pathological tumour depth (≥2, HR=3.099, 95%CI=1.339-7.172, p=0.008) were selected as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION RMML after esophagectomy is indicative of poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer.