Resumen
Measures of body composition have been used extensively for prognostication across an array of malignant and benign diseases. Systemic inflammation is both a key driver of cancer cachexia and a common finding in patients presenting with acute pathology. However, its influence on estimates of body composition remains poorly understood. Postoperative anastomotic leak represents a relatively unique opportunity to model the effects of acute, severe systemic inflammation on body composition. This study found that systemic inflammation has a marked effect on CT-derived estimates of body composition. Decreased quantities of skeletal muscle and increased measures of intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose were observed following the inflammatory insult. Radiodensity across muscle and adipose tissues trended towards that of water, likely secondary to oedema. Future research utilising body composition should be interpreted with consideration of the potential of influence of underlying inflammatory status.