In patients who undergo radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, low muscle mass may be associated with increased risks of recurrence and mortality, regardless of body mass index (BMI), a new study found. Records of 2,042 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed. Muscle mass was evaluated by measuring psoas muscle index (PMI) on preoperative computed tomography images. Researchers found:

• 10-year distant metastasis-free survival rates in the lowest, second, third, and highest PMI quartiles were 72.5%, 83.8%, 92.3%, and 93.7%, respectively.
• 10-year cancer-specific survival rates were 85.7%, 92.1%, 96.8%, and 97.6%, respectively.
• 10-year overall survival rates were 74.5%, 79.6%, 89.8%, and 90.6%, respectively.
• PMI was independently associated with increased risks of biochemical recurrence, distant metastasis, cancer-specific death, and overall death.