This research looked at 86 patients who had surgery to remove pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors at a tertiary referral center. The team examined how preoperative nutritional status and low muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, affected outcomes. They found that 21 patients, or 24.4%, experienced recurrence or progression of their disease during the study period.
In initial analysis, having sarcopenia was associated with shorter disease-free survival. However, when the researchers adjusted for other variables in a more detailed model, this association became weaker and was no longer statistically significant. The study followed patients for a median of 21.8 months.
The authors note that it remains uncertain if these findings are independent of tumor burden. They suggest that larger, prospective studies using standardized imaging protocols are needed to confirm these results. Because the link was not strong after adjustment, readers should view these findings as preliminary rather than definitive proof of a direct cause.