Automated Assessment of Sarcopenia with Hounsfield Unit Average Calculation in Computed Tomography Scans Using Deep Learning Techniques

Abstract

Introduction Skeletal muscle is increasingly plastic with an ability to gain or lose tissue. Depletion of muscle mass and quality occurs due to various factors such as aging, disease, and disuse. Sarcopenia can be loosely defined as a significant loss of muscle mass and function. Sarcopenia is now recognized as an independent risk factor for various patient-related negative outcomes after various surgeries. Various computed tomography (CT) based imaging indices for assessment of sarcopenia exist in practice. The psoas muscle Hounsfield unit average calculation (HUAC) has been proven to be an effective one as it is independent of patient anthropometric data, and it can be calculated in the images provided.

Keywords

• deep learning
• HUAC
• muscle quality
• sarcopenia