Sarcopenia, the age-related, progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is often called a “hidden” disease. It is usually an incidental finding of diagnostic tests for other diseases and is not routinely screened for.
Lawrence Yao, MD, research consultant in radiology and imaging sciences at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, sees a Given that sarcopenia is visible on many imaging modalities, routine assessment of sarcopenia, through opportunistic imaging—with the help of machine learning—presents an opportunity for early detection and prevention.
The possibility of automating sarcopenia reporting through deep learning on routine imaging exams could lead to a shift in the way that health care professionals think of sarcopenia. Rather than a condition that commonly afflicts older people and can’t be avoided, it may become something that can be detected early, and delayed or reversed through interventions.
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