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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Med. Technol.
Sec. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices
Volume 6 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2024.1467155

Advancements in Sarcopenia Diagnosis: From Imaging Techniques to Non-Radiation Assessments

Provisionally accepted
Salvatore Lavalle Salvatore Lavalle 1Rosa Scapaticci Rosa Scapaticci 2*Edoardo Masiello Edoardo Masiello 1Carmelo Messina Carmelo Messina 3,4Alberto Aliprandi Alberto Aliprandi 5Valerio Mario Salerno Valerio Mario Salerno 1Arcangelo Russo Arcangelo Russo 1Francesco Pegreffi Francesco Pegreffi 1
  • 1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Sicily, Italy
  • 2 Institute for the Electromagnetic sensing of the Environemt, National Council of Research of Italy, Naples, Italy
  • 3 Department of Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
  • 4 Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  • 5 Department of Radiology, Zucchi Clinical Institutes, Monza, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Sarcopenia is a prevalent condition with significant clinical implications, and it is expected to escalate globally, demanding for effective diagnostic strategies, possibly at an early stage of the disease. Imaging techniques play a pivotal role in comprehensively evaluating sarcopenia, offering insights into both muscle quantity and quality. Among all the imaging techniques currently used for the diagnosis and follow up of sarcopenia, it is possible to distinguish two classes: Rx based techniques, using ionizing radiations, and non-invasive techniques, which are based on the use of safe and low risk diagnostic procedures. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry and Computed Tomography, while widely utilized, entail radiation exposure concerns. Ultrasound imaging offers portability, real-time imaging, and absence of ionizing radiation, making it a promising tool Magnetic Resonance Imaging, particularly T1-weighted and Dixon sequences, provides cross-sectional and high-resolution images and fat-water separation capabilities, facilitating precise sarcopenia quantification. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), a non-invasive technique, estimates body composition, including muscle mass, albeit influenced by hydration status. Standardized protocols, such as those proposed by the Sarcopenia through Ultrasound (SARCUS) Working Group, are imperative for ensuring consistency across assessments. Future research should focus on refining these techniques and harnessing the potential of radiomics and artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostic accuracy and prognostic capabilities in sarcopenia.

    Keywords: Sarcopenia, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography, ultrasound imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, bioelectrical impedance analysis, Quantitative parameters, Non-ionizing radiation

    Received: 19 Jul 2024; Accepted: 13 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Lavalle, Scapaticci, Masiello, Messina, Aliprandi, Mario Salerno, Russo and Pegreffi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Rosa Scapaticci, Institute for the Electromagnetic sensing of the Environemt, National Council of Research of Italy, Naples, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.