Cachexia index and its relationship with resection operability in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the relatively common malignancies all over the world, and is one of major problems of health care system. Nowadays, importance of cachexia is demonstrated in prognosis of various malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate frequency of cachexia index and its relationship with resection operability in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study, 36 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who referred to Imam Reza and Sina educational medical centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, for surgery procedures, were included and evaluated in the study. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated using computed tomography (CT)-scan before performing surgery, patients’ cachexia index was calculated by the following formula: . Cachexia syndrome, patients’ weight loss, resection operability, and cachexia index were evaluated in patients. Results: Among 36 patients whom were studied, 25 patients (69.4%) were men, and 11 patients (30.6%) were women. Cachexia was seen in 5 patients (13.9%). In terms of gastrostomy operability, 26 patients (72.2%) were operable, and 10 patients (27.8%) were non-operable. Gastrostomy operability in patients with cachexia were significantly less than patients without cachexia syndrome (P = 0.001). No significant differences were seen in cachexia index of operable and non-operable patients (P = 0.105). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, gastrostomy operability in patients with cachexia was significantly less than patients without cachexia syndrome; but operable and non-operable patients do not have significant differences in cachexia in comparison to each other.