151751-Najiba-Chargi

376 CHAPTER 18 In retrospective studies, data on MF will probably rarely be available, whereas CT or MRI is often routinely performed in head and neck cancer patients. We propose to conduct further prospective studies for themeasurement of bothMF and SMM and to perform routine handgrip strength measurements in every newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patient. In conclusion, sarcopenia is present in half of the elderly HNSCC patients. Skeletal muscle mass index and muscle function, as determined by muscle strength or physical performance measurements, were not prognostic separately in elderly HNSCC patients, but the combi - nation of both was prognostic for overall survival. Therefore, it may be preferable to define sarcopenia as the combination of low skeletal muscle mass and lowmuscle function and not by radiologically assessed skeletal muscle mass alone.