#Barcelona #Visceral Fat #Endometrial Cancer #EANM’25

Understanding the Link Between High Metabolic Visceral Fat and Endometrial Cancer

Recent findings presented at the 38th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM’25) in Barcelona have drawn crucial connections between high metabolic activity in visceral fat and the aggressiveness of endometrial cancer. This study sheds light on the risks and implications of visceral fat beyond mere obesity, reassuring the need for further research in this vital area of women's health.

Key Findings of the Research

The research highlighted that while obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer, the presence of visceral fat and its metabolic activity could be significant indicators of disease aggressiveness. Specifically, researchers from Haukeland University Hospital and the University of Bergen analyzed PET/CT scans from a sample of 274 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Their assessment focused on glucose uptake in visceral fat, which was used as a marker for evaluating metabolic activity. The results asserted that women exhibiting higher metabolic rates in their visceral fat tissue were notably more inclined to encounter advanced stages of the disease, along with lymph node metastases.

Dr. Jostein Sæterstøl, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the correlation lies not just in the amount of visceral fat present but significantly in its biological activity.