The prognostic impact of myosteatosis on overall survival in gynecological cancer patients: A meta‐analysis and trial sequential analysis

Abstract Myosteatosis is a novel imaging biomarker for survival in gynecological cancer patients; however, the evidence is inconsistent. This meta‐analysis aims to investigate the impact of myosteatosis on overall survival in the gynecological oncology setting. Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) were systematically searched for relevant literature up to October 30, 2021. A random‐effects model was used to evaluate the predictive effect of myosteatosis on overall survival in the gynecological cancer population. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Trial sequential analysis was used to control the risk of random errors. Twelve studies with a total of 2519 patients were included. Myosteatosis was associated with a 50% increased mortality risk (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24‐1.82, P < .001) in gynecological cancer patients. Subgroup analyses stratified by study design, statistical model, treatment, sample size and stage confirmed the predictive value of myosteatosis on survival. However, the prognostic ability of myosteatosis only was held in the American and European populations but lost in Asians. Additionally, myosteatosis was not associated with the increased mortality in endometrial and cervical cancers, except for ovarian cancers. Overall, myosteatosis is a powerful predictor of reduced overall survival in gynecological cancer patients.