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Application of ultrasound for muscle assessment in sarcopenia: 2020 SARCUS update

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

Standardizing the use of ultrasound in the assessment of muscle and sarcopenia.

AbstractSection Findings

Approach of muscle assessment has been updated according to the most recent literature and anatomical landmarks for 39 different muscles are provided.

AbstractSection Message

Using these recommendations, ultrasonographical muscle assessment can be standardized worldwide.

Abstract

Purpose

In 2018, the SARCUS working group published a first article on the standardization of the use of ultrasound to assess muscle. Recommendations were made for patient positioning, system settings and components to be measured. Also, shortcomings in knowledge were mentioned. An important issue that still required standardization was the definition of anatomical landmarks for many muscles.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in Medline, SCOPUS and Web of Sciences looking for all articles describing the use of ultrasound in the assessment of muscle not described in the first recommendations, published from 01/01/2018 until 31/01/2020. All relevant terms used for older people, ultrasound and muscles were used.

Results

For 39 muscles, different approaches for ultrasound assessment were found that likely impact the values measured. Standardized anatomical landmarks and measuring points were proposed for all muscles/muscle groups. Besides the five already known muscle parameters (muscle thickness, cross-section area, pennation angle, fascicle length and echo-intensity), four new parameters are discussed (muscle volume, stiffness, contraction potential and microcirculation). The former SARCUS article recommendations are updated with this new information that includes new muscle groups.

Conclusions

The emerging field of ultrasound assessment of muscle mass only highlights the need for a standardization of measurement technique. In this article, guidelines are updated and broadened to provide standardization instructions for a large number of muscles.

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Correspondence to Stany Perkisas.

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The protocol for this updated systematic review has been registered at PROSPERO (registration number CRD42019126106) on the 9th of August 2019.

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SARCUS working group on behalf of the Sarcopenia Special Interest Group of the European Geriatric Medicine Society.

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Perkisas, S., Bastijns, S., Baudry, S. et al. Application of ultrasound for muscle assessment in sarcopenia: 2020 SARCUS update. Eur Geriatr Med 12, 45–59 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00433-9

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