Affiliation:
1. Operative Reasearch Unit of Radiology and Interventional Radiology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
2. Research Unit of Radiology and Interventional Radiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
Abstract
(1) Background: Renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence has been steadily rising, with obesity identified as a potential risk factor. However, the relationship between obesity and RCC prognosis remains unclear. This systematic review aims to investigate the impact of different adipose tissue measurements on RCC behavior and prognosis. (2) Methods: A search of MEDLINE databases identified 20 eligible studies focusing on various fat measurements, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT), and the Mayo adhesive probability (MAP) score. (3) Results: The review revealed conflicting findings regarding the association between adipose tissue measurements and RCC outcomes. While some studies suggested a protective role of certain fat deposits, particularly VAT, against disease progression and mortality, others reported contradictory results across different adipose metrics and RCC subtypes. (4) Conclusions: Methodological variations and limitations, such as retrospective designs and sample size constraints, pose challenges to standardization and generalizability. Further research is needed to understand these associations better and establish standardized approaches for adiposity assessment in RCC patients, which could inform clinical practice and therapeutic decision-making.