Quantitative somatosensory testing of the abdomen: establishing initial reference values across developmental age and biological sex.

ABSTRACT: Abdominal pain is a common symptom of several debilitating conditions (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and endometriosis) and affects individuals throughout their lifespan. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) reference values exist for many body sites but not the abdomen. Using a QST battery adapted from the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain, we collected QST data on the upper and lower abdomen in 181 pain-free participants, ages 12 to 50 years, to establish reference values by age and biological sex. The normative values are presented as medians for each QST measure by sex (male, n = 63; female, n = 118) and across 3 age categories (adolescents: 12-19 years, n = 48; young adults: 20-30 years, n = 87; and adults: 31-50 years, n = 46). Evaluating the sensory functioning of the abdomen and characterizing ranges of QST measures is an essential first step in understanding and monitoring the clinical course of sensory abnormalities in patients with underlying diseases affecting the abdomen and pelvis. The impact of age and development on sensory functioning is necessary, given age-related changes in pain perception and modulation.

Quantitative Pectoralis Muscle Area is Associated with the Development of Lung Cancer in a Large Lung Cancer Screening Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of developing lung cancer. We conducted a retrospective cohort study evaluating baseline quantitative computed tomography (CT) measurements of body composition, specifically muscle and fat area in a large CT lung screening cohort (CTLS). We hypothesized that quantitative measurements of baseline body composition may aid in risk stratification for lung cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent baseline CTLS between January 1st, 2012 and September 30th, 2014 and who had an in-network primary care physician were included. All patients met NCCN Guidelines eligibility criteria for CTLS. Quantitative measurements of pectoralis muscle area (PMA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were performed on a single axial slice of the CT above the aortic arch with the Chest Imaging Platform Workstation software. Cox multivariable proportional hazards model for cancer was adjusted for variables with a univariate p < 0.2. Data were dichotomized by sex and then combined to account for baseline differences between sexes. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred and ninety six patients were included in this study. A total of 79 (4.7%) patients developed lung cancer. There was an association between the 25th percentile of PMA and the development of lung cancer [HR 1.71 (1.07, 2.75), p < 0.025] after adjusting for age, BMI, qualitative emphysema, qualitative coronary artery calcification, and baseline Lung-RADS® score. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative assessment of PMA on baseline CTLS was associated with the development of lung cancer. Quantitative PMA has the potential to be incorporated as a variable in future lung cancer risk models.