Comparison of CT derived body composition at the thoracic T4 and T12 with lumbar L3 vertebral levels and their utility in patients with rectal cancer

This study was performed to assess the variation and reproducibility of skeletal muscle mass at vertebral levels T4, T12 and L3 in pre-operative rectal cancer patients. If thoracic measurements were equivalent to those at L3, it will allow for body composition comparisons in a larger range of cancers where lumbar CT images are not routinely measured.