Low bone mineral density is a prognostic factor for elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE: results from a multicenter study

Abstract: Objectives
Low bone mineral density (BMD) was recently identified as a novel risk factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this multicenter study, we aimed to validate the role of BMD as a prognostic factor for patients with HCC undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods
This retrospective multicenter trial included 908 treatment-naïve patients with HCC who were undergoing TACE as a first-line treatment, at six tertiary care centers, between 2010 and 2020. BMD was assessed by measuring the mean Hounsfield units (HUs) in the midvertebral core of the 11th thoracic vertebra, on contrast-enhanced computer tomography performed before treatment. We assessed the influence of BMD on median overall survival (OS) and performed multivariate analysis including established estimates for survival.

Results
The median BMD was 145 HU (IQR, 115–175 HU). Patients with a high BMD (≥ 114 HU) had a median OS of 22.2 months, while patients with a low BMD (< 114 HU) had a lower median OS of only 16.2 months (p < .001). Besides albumin, bilirubin, tumor number, and tumor diameter, BMD remained an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions
BMD is an independent predictive factor for survival in elderly patients with HCC undergoing TACE. The integration of BMD into novel scoring systems could potentially improve survival prediction and clinical decision-making

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: European radiology. - 33, 2 (2022) , 1031-1039, ISSN: 1432-1084

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2022
• Creator: Müller, Lukas ; Mähringer-Kunz, Aline ; Auer, Timo Alexander ; Fehrenbach, Uli ; Gebauer, Bernhard ; Haubold, Johannes ; Theysohn, Jens ; Kim, Moon-Sung ; Kleesiek, Jens Philipp ; Diallo, Thierno Diawo ; Eisenblätter, Michel ; Bettinger, Dominik ; Wagner, Verena ; Mayer, Philipp ; Zopfs, David ; Pinto dos Santos, Daniel ; Klöckner, Roman Trutz

Further information

• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09069-8
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2292581
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:47 AM CEST