Most people wouldn’t expect a body composition scan to say much about cancer recovery. But new research shows that DEXA scans—usually used to look at bone health and body fat – can also help predict how patients respond to stem cell transplants.
A recent study looked at patients with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that often requires autologous stem cell transplants (where the patient’s own cells are used for treatment). Before the transplant, researchers ran DEXA scans to measure each patient’s body composition – fat, muscle, and bone mass.
And those numbers ended up saying a lot.
What Did the Scans Reveal?
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, tracked patients after their transplants and compared their recovery outcomes to what their DEXA scans showed beforehand. Here’s what stood out:
- Women with higher total body fat had longer remission periods.
- Men with low muscle mass were more likely to get serious infections after the transplant.
- Men with higher fat mass experienced more side effects from treatment.
These aren’t things a regular weight check or BMI could have uncovered. The DEXA scans gave doctors real data about body composition – and that data helped predict how patients would respond to a life-saving treatment.
Why It Matters
Multiple myeloma and stem cell transplants are physically demanding. Recovery can be complicated, and outcomes vary from person to person. This study shows that what your body is made of before the transplant can influence how you recover after.
The scans didn’t just measure weight—they broke it down into fat mass, lean muscle, and bone density. Those details made the difference.
For patients going through cancer care, it’s one more way to prepare. For doctors, it’s a tool to anticipate risk.
What This Means for You
You don’t have to be a cancer patient for this to matter. If you’re preparing for major treatment, managing a chronic illness, or just want a clearer look at your health, a DEXA scan offers more information than a physical exam or standard bloodwork.
It can show whether you’re carrying enough muscle to stay strong through illness. It can detect visceral fat, which is linked to inflammation and complications. And it can serve as a baseline if you’re working with a medical team on treatment planning.
At Accurate Imaging Diagnostics, we provide DEXA scans to people looking to take control of their health – whether they’re managing a condition or just want better answers than the scale can give.
To book a scan or learn more about how DEXA can help guide your care, call us at (905) 709-3939 or visit accurateimagingdiagnostics.com.
Reference:
Jabłonowska-Babij P, et al. Pre-Transplant Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)-Derived Body Composition Measures as Predictors of Treatment Outcomes and Early Post-Transplant Complications in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM) Treated with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AutoHSCT). J Clin Med. 2024;13(19):5987.
