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. 2020 Apr;51(4):1117-1127.
doi: 10.1002/jmri.26931. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

MRI-Derived Biomarkers Related to Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review

Marina Codari  1 , Moreno Zanardo  2 , Maria Eugenia di Sabato  3 , Elisabetta Nocerino  4 , Carmelo Messina  2   5 , Luca Maria Sconfienza  2   5 , Francesco Sardanelli  2   4
Affiliations

MRI-Derived Biomarkers Related to Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review

Marina Codari et al. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Background: MRI allows quantitatively assessing muscle quantity and quality.

Purpose: To summarize the role of MRI as a noninvasive technique for the identification of in vivo surrogate biomarker of sarcopenia.

Study type: Systematic review.

Population: In April 2019, a systematic literature search (Medline/EMBASE) was performed to identify articles on the topic at issue.

Field strength/sequence: No field strength or sequence restrictions.

Assessment: After a literature search, study design, aim, sample size, demographics, magnetic field strength, imaged body region, MRI sequences, and imaging biomarker were extracted.

Statistical tests: Data are presented as frequencies and percentages.

Results: From 69 records identified through search query, 18 articles matched the inclusion criteria. All articles were published from 2012 and had a mainly prospective design (14/18, 78%). Sample size ranged from 9 to 284 subjects, for a total of 1706 enrolled subjects. Healthy subjects were enrolled or retrospectively selected in 8/18 (44%) articles, corresponding to 658 (39%) healthy subjects. Magnetic field strength was 1.5 or 3T in 14/18 (78%) studies. The most analyzed body regions were the thigh (7/18, 39%) and the trunk (6/18, 33%). Stratifying studies according to their aim, 13/18 (72%) studies focused on muscle quality and quantity, 3/18 (17%) studies on outcome prediction, and 2/18 articles (11%) addressed both aims. A wide set of MRI biomarkers have been proposed. Muscle cross-sectional area was the most used for muscle quantity estimation, while quantitative biomarkers of muscle fat content or fiber architecture were proposed to assess muscle quality.

Data conclusion: The proposed biomarkers were assessed using different MRI sequences for different body regions in different subjects/patient cohorts, pointing out a lack of standardization on this topic. Future studies should test and compare the performance of proposed MRI biomarkers for sarcopenia characterization and quantification using a standardized experimental setup.

Level of evidence: 1 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1117-1127.

Keywords: biomarkers; magnetic resonance imaging; prognosis; quantitative MRI; sarcopenia.

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