Safety and Feasibility of a Kinesiotape Application for Secondary Hand Lymphedema: A Case Series.

Background: The safety and feasibility of using kinesiotape as a short-term alternative treatment to compression garments or gloves for hand lymphedema have not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine if kinesiotape could maintain size and extracellular fluid (ECF) volume of the hand and forearm, as well as upper limb function and quality of life for women with secondary hand lymphedema. Methods and Results: Six women with secondary hand lymphedema underwent pretreatment measurements, including hand and digit size using a tape measure; ECF volume using bioimpedance spectroscopy; and patient-reported outcome measurements of upper limb function and quality of life. Kinesiotape was then applied to the dorsum of the hand and left for 48 h, during which participants were asked not to wear compression garments. Posttreatment measurements were completed after kinesiotape removal. Changes in measurements were compared to the smallest detectable change (SDC). Hand size did not change more than the SDC; however, a single affected digit increased in circumference by more than the SDC. Changes of the whole arm ECF volume were less than the SDC. The ECF volume of the dorsum of the hand increased in one and decreased in another participant. The forearm ECF volume decreased in two participants. Upper limb function and quality of life did not change. No adverse event was reported. Conclusion: Short-term kinesiotape use appears to be safe in maintaining the physical presentation of hand lymphedema. However, these results should be examined in a larger sample. The feasibility of using kinesiotape as an alternative treatment to compression requires further investigation. Clinical Trial Registration number: ACTRN12618001232224p, July 23, 2018 retrospectively registered.

Prophylactic Use of Compression Sleeves Reduces the Incidence of Arm Swelling in Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether prophylactic use of compression sleeves prevents arm swelling in women who had undergone axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer surgery. METHODS: Women (n = 307) were randomly assigned to either a compression or control group. In addition to usual postoperative care, the compression group received two compression sleeves to wear postoperatively until 3 months after completing adjuvant treatments. Arm swelling was determined using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) thresholds and relative arm volume increase (RAVI). Incidence and time free from arm swelling were compared using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox regression models for BIS and RAVI thresholds independently. In addition, time to documentation of the first minimally important difference (MID) in four scales of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the breast cancer-specific (BR23) questionnaire was analyzed. RESULTS: The HR for developing arm swelling in the compression group relative to the control group was 0.61 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.85; P = .004) on the basis of BIS and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.33 to 0.96; P = .034) on the basis of RAVI. The estimated cumulative incidence of arm swelling at 1 year was lower in the compression group than the control group on the basis of BIS (42% v 52%) and RAVI (14% v 25%). HRs for time from baseline to the first change of the minimally important difference were not statistically significant for any of the four scales of EORTC QLQ-30 and BR23 questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic use of compression sleeves compared with the control group reduced and delayed the occurrence of arm swelling in women at high risk for lymphedema in the first year after surgery for breast cancer.

Lymphoscintigraphy as an Outcome Measurement for Conservative Upper Limb Lymphedema Treatments: A Systematic Review.

Background: The impact of conservative interventions on lymphatic function and the relationship to clinical outcomes is currently unknown. A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate studies that used lymphoscintigraphy to measure outcomes from conservative intervention for secondary arm lymphedema and to explore the relationship between changes in the lymphoscintigraphy and clinical outcomes. Methods and Results: Five databases were systematically searched using the selection criteria: randomized controlled trials (RCTs); quasi-RCTs; pre/post and cohort studies; upper limb secondary lymphedema; use of lymphoscintigraphy as an outcome measure; and conservative intervention. Seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Compression, exercise, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and pharmacological interventions were evaluated using lymphoscintigraphy. There was heterogeneity with all aspects of the lymphoscintigraphy techniques, including radioisotope used, injection location, use of exercise, and imaging sequence between the studies as well as the outcome analysis. Also most studies did not show a relationship between the clinical and lymphoscintigraphy outcomes measured. Conclusions: Lymphoscintigraphy has not been used regularly or recently to evaluate conservative upper limb lymphedema treatment outcomes. Lack of standardization of lymphoscintigraphy protocols and lack of consensus and understanding of the lymphoscintigraphy analyses used to measure the outcomes of diverse conservative lymphedema interventions currently limit the use of lymphoscintigraphy as an outcome measure. Further research adopting recent guidelines to standardize lymphoscintigraphy and use of reliable analysis techniques that measure the physiological impact of the chosen conservative lymphedema intervention is recommended to evaluate the impact of conservative interventions on lymphatic function.

Physical activity interventions using behaviour change theories for women with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Physical activity is a well-established strategy to alleviate breast cancer-related adverse outcomes. To optimise health benefits, behaviour change theories provide frameworks to support women in improving their physical activity. This review aimed to evaluate (i) the effects of behaviour change theory-based physical activity interventions for women with breast cancer and (ii) the application of these theories. METHODS: Seven online databases were searched. Trials were included if randomised and controlled, involved physical activity interventions ≥ 12 weeks duration, used a behaviour change theory, and participants were < 3 years post-cancer treatment. Risk of bias and theory use were assessed. Data were synthesised narratively and meta-analysed. RESULTS: Forty articles describing 19 trials were included. Overall risk of bias was moderately high. Post-intervention pooled effect estimates were medium for self-reported (SMD = 0.57) and objectively measured physical activity (SMD = 0.52). Most trials cited the social cognitive theory (n = 10) and transtheoretical model (n = 9). Trials rarely applied theories in their entirety, expounded on behavioural mechanisms, or tailored interventions according to behavioural constructs. The most commonly used types of behavioural techniques were goals and planning (n = 18), shaping of knowledge (n = 18), feedback and monitoring (n = 17), and comparisons of outcomes (n = 17). CONCLUSIONS: The included trials were effective for increasing physical activity in women with breast cancer. Theories were applied using a wide range of approaches and levels of rigour, although shared the use of common behavioural techniques. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Future research may benefit breast cancer survivors by more comprehensively applying behaviour change theories, emphasising individual patient needs and goals.

Ultrasound: Assessment of breast dermal thickness: Reliability, responsiveness to change, and relationship to patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The current study assessed the level of reliability of ultrasound to assess dermal thickness, a clinical feature of breast lymphedema. Additionally, the relationship of dermal thickness to patient-reported outcomes was investigated. METHODS: Women (n = 82) with unilateral breast edema secondary to treatment of breast cancer were randomized to an exercise or control group. Ultrasound measurements of the unaffected and affected breasts were taken at baseline and 12 weeks later at 3-4 cm superior, medial, inferior, and lateral to the nipple. Additionally, women completed breast-related questions from the European Organization Research and Treatment Committee Quality of Life breast cancer module (EORTC-BR23) and Lymphedema Symptom Intensity and Distress Questionnaire (LSIDS). Reliability of ultrasound measurements was determined on the unaffected breast. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) ranged from 0.66 (95% CI: 0.52-0.77) for the lateral location to 0.84 (0.77-0.90) for the superior location. Percent close agreement (80%) on the unaffected breast ranged from 0.20 to 0.27 mm compared to 0.57 to 0.93 mm on the affected breast. The standard error of measurement (%) on the unaffected breast varied from 9% to 13% with smallest real difference 0.34-0.41 mm. Dermal thickness of the affected breast was not-to-poorly associated with EORTC BR23 and LSIDS scores. CONCLUSION: Reliability of dermal thickness measurements of the breast was excellent for the superior, medial, and inferior locations, and fair to good for the lateral location. However, these measurements were not related to the symptom's women perceive and measured with the EORTC BR23 or LSIDS.

The accuracy and precision of interface pressure measuring devices: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Interface pressure measuring devices are used to assess the pressures exerted by compression. Their performance, however, has not been considered as a contributing factor to reported inconsistences in the application of compression. A systematic review was undertaken to investigate the performance of commercially available devices used to measure interface pressure. METHODS: Six databases were searched identifying 17 devices, grouped into five sensor categories. RESULTS: A range of methodologies assessed the devices' accuracy and precision, including method of pressure application, device calibration and type of surface used. No sensor category outperformed the others, however some individual sensors showed higher accuracy and/or precision compared to others. Two major factors influenced the performance of a number of sensors: the amount of applied pressure and the calibration method used. CONCLUSION: Inconsistences in the application of compression may reflect, in part, issues related to accuracy and precision of the devices used to assess compression.

Self-reported questionnaires for lymphoedema: a systematic review of measurement properties using COSMIN framework.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphoedema may develop as a result of numerous genetic and traumatic causes; however, treatment for cancer is the most common cause of its development in more economically developed nations. This systematic review critically appraised, compared and summarised the measurement properties of lymphoedema-specific self-reported questionnaires (SRQs) measuring various patient-reported outcomes including quality of life (QOL), function, morbidity, and symptoms. METHODS: Seven databases were searched to identify studies of the measurement properties of SRQs. Two review teams independently evaluated the quality of the individual studies using the risk of bias tool from the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). Measurement properties of the SRQs presented in the studies were then rated. Study level ratings were summarised for an SRQ if they were reported in multiple studies, and their overall quality of the evidence were then graded. RESULTS: Forty articles, reporting on 19 SRQs were identified from 8615 records. The focus of the 19 SRQs included eight on QOL, four on symptoms, two on function, and two on impairment. The other three SRQs were on illness perception, self-efficacy, and patient-relevant treatment benefit, respectively. Eight and three SRQs were upper limb and lower limb-specific, respectively, whereas seven questionnaires were for both upper and lower limb lymphoedema. One SRQ was developed for head and neck lymphoedema. According to the COSMIN framework, none of the SRQs reviewed had sufficient evidence to support all nine measurement properties. In lower limb questionnaires, the LYMQOL-leg has sufficient content, structural, and construct validity as well as internal consistency and reliability. For upper limb lymphoedema questionnaires, the Lymph-ICF-UL had sufficient content and construct validity as well as reliability. CONCLUSION: LYMQOL-leg SRQ is recommended with confidence for evaluation of QOL of people with lower limb lymphoedema while the Lymph-ICF-UL is recommended for evaluation of the QOL of the breast cancer-related lymphoedema with some confidence. In view of the high level of the indeterminate ratings of the measurement properties of the existing SRQs, further research is desirable.

Interchangeability of Two Electrode Placement Protocols Used by Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Devices in the Detection of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Background: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) devices are routinely used in the assessment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). The equipotential electrode placement is a commonly used protocol for the assessment of BCRL. However, the sternal notch electrode placement protocol is also in use. Whether these two protocols are interchangeable is not known. Methods and Results: Ethical approval was received from the institutional ethics committee at Tata Memorial Hospital, India. BIS measurements (whole-body right side and affected and unaffected arms) of 100 women with or at risk of BCRL were measured using equipotential and sternal notch protocols. Resistance at zero frequency (R0) was determined, and agreement of the absolute R0 values and the R0 ratio (unaffected/affected) between protocols was evaluated (Bland-Altman analysis and Passing-Bablok regression analysis). Mean absolute differences between protocols were very small for whole-body right side, affected arm, unaffected arm, and the interarm ratio at 0.23 ohms (95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.8 to 4.3), -5.7 ohms (95% CI: -7.5 to -3.9), -9.09 ohms (95% CI: -11.4 to -6.8), and -0.008 ohms (95% CI: -0.02 to 0.001), respectively. Limits of agreement (two standard deviation) between protocols were narrow for whole-body right side, affected arm, unaffected arm, and interarm ratio without any systematic or proportional differences for whole-body right side and the interarm ratio (5.8% to -5.6%, 3.7% to -7.4%, 3.5% to -8.2%, and 5.8% to -5.6%, respectively). Conclusion: The equipotential and sternal notch protocols could be used interchangeably in BCRL assessment. The Clinical Trial Registration number: CTRI/2017/12/010762.

Clinician Assessment of Upper Limb Lymphedema: An Observational Study.

Background: Clinical management of lymphedema requires assessment, initially for detection, and then for determining treatment response and informing the treatment plan. It is unknown how the components of a lymphedema assessment are used in a clinical environment. Methods and Results: Experienced lymphedema therapists were observed assessing patients presenting with new or existing upper body lymphedema. Occupational and physiotherapists specializing in lymphedema management (n = 14) from public and private, rural and urban settings in Australia were visited at their work sites and observed with a minimum of two patients. In total, 37 upper limb assessments were observed. Reasons for attendance included: initial assessment with new swelling (n = 4); screening/detection for possible lymphedema (n = 3); bandaging as part of an intensive treatment program (n = 2); and review (n = 28). Clinicians were observed, in order of frequency, using (1) patient-reported outcomes, (2) palpation, (3) visual assessment, (4) assessment of limb size using circumference measurements, and (5) assessment of extracellular fluid using bioimpedance spectroscopy. Although clinicians selected similar assessments, differences were observed in the measurement protocols and informed reported. Objective assessment was commonly absent when the time available for an appointment was 30 minutes. Conclusions: While clinicians spent a significant portion of an appointment time assessing the limb, a standardized approach to the assessment of lymphedema was not observed. In the absence of a standardized assessment set, therapists have developed bespoke assessment routines.

Assessment of Upper Limb Lymphedema: A Qualitative Study Exploring Clinicians' Clinical Reasoning.

Background: A variety of objective and subjective assessments are available for clinical assessment of lymphedema. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical reasoning underpinning the assessment of upper limb lymphedema by experienced lymphedema clinicians. Methods and Results: Semistructured, individual, interviews were conducted with lymphedema therapists (n = 14) from a variety of treatment settings. These interviews were conducted after observations of these therapists assessing patients with lymphedema and focused on: (1) the therapists' rationale for the assessments selected, (2) how the data were analyzed, and (3) how the information was then used. Assessment selection was guided by the purpose of the visit, patient preference, resources, and time available. Subjective measures of visible and palpated tissue changes were used to target treatment, and objective measures of circumference and bioimpedance spectroscopy and patient report of symptoms informed treatment evaluation and disease progression. Objective data collected were primarily analyzed for interlimb difference and change between appointments. Conclusions: A range of clinical assessments were used in the evaluation of lymphedema to detect the presence of lymphedema, estimate the extent of soft tissue change, understand the patient experience of lymphedema, and evaluate treatment response. A primary determinant for the collection of objective measures was the appointment duration. Current methods of data analysis and reporting do not facilitate the review of change over time.

Reliability and Validity of Physical Tools and Measurement Methods to Quantify Hand Swelling: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Hand swelling may result from injury or trauma. Various physical assessment tools and measurement methods can be used to quantify the volume or size of the hand or fingers; however, the reliability and validity of each tool and measurement method have not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of physical assessment tools and methods used to quantify hand and finger volume orsize. METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched using key terms related to swelling, edema, volume, size, hand, measures, reliability, and validity. Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies that assessed reliability and/or validity of physical assessment tools or measurement methods to quantify hand swelling were included. Two examiners independently extracted data from the included articles and appraised the articles' quality using the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments methodology. Data extracted from studies analyzing reliability and validity were grouped by type of assessment tool and measurement method. RESULTS: Five physical assessment tools used for quantification of hand swelling were evaluated, including tape measure, water volumeter, bioimpedance spectroscopy, ring gauge, 3-dimensional techniques. All assessment tools had good to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.74 - 0.99), and moderate to high validity (Pearson coefficient = 0.58 - 0.99), for quantification of the volume or size of the hand or fingers. CONCLUSION: All measurement methods with these tools had good to excellent reliability and moderate to high validity. The evidence underpinning the figure-of-eight technique, which uses a tape measure, was the highest. Because these physical assessment tools and measurement methods assess different aspects and regions of the hand, which one is selected depends on the region of interest for assessment and the availability of tools. IMPACT: Reliable tools and measurement methods are available to measure the size or volume of the hand and fingers, either together or separately. The best tool will depend on the aim of assessment and tool availability. LAY SUMMARY: Hand swelling can occur with injuries, burns, or lymphedema. This review shows that tools are available to accurately measure swelling in any part of thehand.

Bioimpedance Spectroscopy of the Breast.

Background: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) measurements of breast lymphedema poses practical and technical challenges, in particular the determination of the resistance at zero frequency (R0), the index of change in breast lymph content. Conventionally, R0 is calculated from data analysis by using a procedure eponymously known as Cole modeling, a method that is error-prone in the breast. The aim of this study was to evaluate polynomial curve fitting as an alternative analytic procedure. Methods and Results: A sub-set of breast BIS measurements from 41 women with self-ascribed breast lymphedema obtained as part of the Breast Edema Exercise Trial (BEET) were analyzed by both the Cole and polynomial methods. BIS files for all subjects were able to be analyzed by using the polynomial method but only 73% and 88% of data files were analyzed for the affected and unaffected breasts, respectively, by using the Cole method. For those files that were capable of being analyzed by both methods, R0 values were highly correlated (r = 0.99) but with a small (1.6%) although statistically significant difference (paired t test, p < 0.001) between methods. Conclusions: Analysis of BIS data using polynomial curve fitting is an acceptable and robust alternative to Cole modeling, particularly where impedance measurements are susceptible to technical sources of error of measurement. The small magnitude of difference observed between methods is unlikely to lead to misclassification of patients with lymphedema based on BIS assessment.

Screening for breast cancer-related lymphoedema: self-assessment of symptoms and signs.

INTRODUCTION: In the absence of monitoring programs, those at risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) must detect its development. However, the efficacy of self-assessment for BCRL has not been widely investigated. This study will determine if symptoms and signs of BCRL are associated with lymphoedema detected by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and whether those with and without BCRL can accurately assess the signs of its presence. METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants with a history of breast cancer (n = 100) reported the presence/absence of symptoms associated with upper limb BCRL and underwent assessment for pitting oedema and differences in tissue texture between their arms (pinch). BIS detected BCRL in 48 women. Women were more likely to have BIS-detected BCRL if they reported swelling (odds ratio (OR), 58.8; 95% CI, 4.9 to 709.4; p = 0.001) or had inter-limb tissue texture differences in their forearm (OR, 73.5; 95% CI, 7.3 to 736.9; p = < 0.001) or upper arm (OR, 23.9; 95% CI, 2.8 to 201.7; p = 0.003). Agreement between therapist and self-assessment of signs of BCRL was almost perfect (kappa, 0.819 to 0.940). A combination of self-reported swelling and/or self-assessed forearm tissue texture difference identified all cases of BIS-detected BCRL. CONCLUSION: Participants accurately identified the presence or absence of physical signs of BCRL in their arm. Perceived swelling and differences in tissue texture in the affected arm were associated with, and sensitive to, BIS-detected BCRL. These findings support the use of self-assessment to determine if BCRL is developing, indicating the need for professional assessment.

Physical Activity for Symptom Management in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Feasibility Trial on Physical Activity and Breast Metastases.

CONTEXT: Physical activity for women with early-stage breast cancer is well recognized for managing cancer-related symptoms and improving quality of life. While typically excluded from interventions, women with metastatic breast cancer may also benefit from physical activity. OBJECTIVE: To 1) determine the safety and feasibility of a physical activity program for women with metastatic breast cancer and 2) explore the efficacy of the program. METHODS: Fourteen women with metastatic breast cancer were randomized to either a control group or an 8-week home-based physical activity intervention comprising twice weekly supervised resistance training and an unsupervized walking program. RESULTS: The recruitment rate was 93%. Adherence to the resistance and walking components of the program was 100% and 25%, respectively. No adverse events were reported. When mean change scores from baseline to postintervention were compared, trends in favor of the exercise group over the control group were observed for the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score (+5.6 ± 3.2 vs. -1.8 ± 3.9, respectively), VO2max (+1.6 ml/kg/minute ±1.8 mL/kg/minute vs. -0.2 mL/kg/minute ±0.1 mL/kg/minute, respectively) and six-minute walk test (+40 m ± 23 m vs. -46 m ± 56 m, respectively). CONCLUSION: A partially supervised home-based physical activity program for women with metastatic breast cancer is feasible and safe. The dose of the resistance training component was well tolerated and achievable in this population. In contrast, adherence and compliance to the walking program were poor. Preliminary data suggest a physical activity program, comprising predominantly resistance training, may lead to improvements in physical capacity and may help women to live well with their disease.

Electrode Equivalence for Use in Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Assessment of Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is commonly used in the assessment and monitoring of lymphedema. This study investigated electrodes as a source of variability that could impact the accuracy of BIS in the clinic and determined if Ag/AgCl electrocardiograph (ECG) electrodes could be used as an alternative to instrument-specific electrodes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two types of Ag/AgCl electrodes were studied: instrument-specific bioimpedance electrodes (bioimpedance) and single tab ECG electrodes (cardiac). Six areas of investigation were addressed: intrinsic electrode resistance; electrode age; drive electrode position; electrode width/surface area; concordance between cardiac and bioimpedance electrodes; and mixing electrode types and batches. Participants included women (n = 26) and men (n = 8), both with (n = 4) and without lymphedema (n = 30). Resistance (R0) of the limbs was measured and used to calculate interlimb BIS ratios. Intrinsic electrode resistance varied between batches (p ≤ 0.001), with cardiac electrodes recording higher resistance. Electrode age had no impact on limb resistance (p = 0.85). Drive electrode position biased limb resistance (0.1%-2.3%) and electrode size/surface area had a small (≤1%), but significant effect on limb resistance (p ≤ 0.001). However, calculation of interlimb BIS ratios negated the impact of these as well as any effect of mixing electrode batches and types (p = 0.15-0.96). Electrode type had no impact on arm and leg resistance, or interlimb BIS ratios (p = 0.173-0.289). CONCLUSION: Calculation of interlimb BIS ratios improves accuracy of clinical BIS. Ag/AgCl cardiac electrodes can be used as an alternative to device-specific electrodes to measure limb resistance.

Reliability and Diagnostic Thresholds for Ultrasound Measurements of Dermal Thickness in Breast Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema of the breast, secondary to treatment for breast cancer, is difficult to assess due to the shape of the breast and the nature of the tissue. Ultrasound measurement of dermal thickness has been previously used to assess breast swelling; however, the reliability of the measurements, or what should be considered an abnormal thickness, is currently known. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-eight women with breast edema were recruited and underwent assessment using ultrasound. During the assessment, the four quadrants (superior, inferior, medial, and lateral) of the affected and unaffected breasts were imaged three times each. Dermal thickness was then measured by two assessors, on two occasions for each captured image. The interimage, intrarater, and inter-rater reliability was all found to be excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.995; ICC(3,1) = 0.962 and 0.851; and ICC(2,1) = 0.977, respectively). A dermal thickness of >1.6 mm in the superior and lateral quadrants and 2.0 mm in the medial and inferior quadrants was determined, by receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis, as the optimal diagnostic threshold to detect breast edema. CONCLUSION: Dermal thickness measurements can be reliably completed on breasts with edema secondary to breast cancer. Future study is needed to determine the utility of the dermal thickness thresholds established as well as to investigate changes in dermal thickness as a response to treatment of breast edema.

Estimation of Arm Adipose Tissue Quotient Using Segmental Bioimpedance Spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic condition characterized by accumulation of lymph fluid that may subsequently become fibrotic with infiltration of adipose tissue. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is the preferred method for early detection of lymphedema as it can estimate extracellular lymph fluid. This study developed a modified impedance technique that concurrently estimates both lymph accumulation and increases in adipose tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS: BIS was used to estimate the adipose tissue volume in a cohort of healthy women (n = 171), which was found to be highly correlated (r > 0.87) with measurements of adipose tissue obtained using the reference method of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In a separate cohort of women with BCRL (n = 16), adipose volumes measured by BIS and reference method, respectively, were 2452.9 ± 933.3 mL and 2109.1 ± 824 6 mL for affected arms; 1770.9 ± 747.8 mL and 1801.4 ± 775.7 mL for unaffected arms; and comparable values for a group of age-matched controls were 1862.5 ± 661.6 mL and 1657.0 ± 641.1 mL for age-matched control arms. The increase in adipose tissue in affected arms was significant irrespective of the method of measurement, p < 0.02 and p < 0.001 for BIS and DXA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An impedance method is described that can estimate increase both in lymph accumulation and adipose tissue in breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Segmental Bioimpedance Informs Diagnosis of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: Detection of lymphedema, particularly its mild stage, is clinically challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether segmental bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) provided additional information to whole arm BIS in assessing women with or at risk of lymphedema following breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants (n = 66), aged 61.6 ± 10.5 years (mean ± standard deviation [SD]), were grouped according to lymphedema status: (1) at-risk (n = 24) had no indicators of lymphedema and (2) lymphedema (n = 42) were suspected to be developing lymphedema or had previously met lymphedema diagnostic criteria and undergone treatment. For each upper limb, impedance was measured for the whole arm, hand and four 10 cm segments of the arm, commencing at the ulnar styloid. Interlimb impedance ratios for corresponding locations were calculated and compared to previously determined, normatively based thresholds based on 2SD and 3SD above the mean. Segmental BIS classified 19% more women with lymphedema than 3SD whole arm thresholds and the same number as 2SD whole arm thresholds. Segmental BIS identified localized lymphedema and patterns in lymphedema distribution that were undetectable by whole arm BIS. Neither 3SD whole arm nor segmental BIS thresholds found lymphedema where it was not present; however, 2SD whole arm thresholds alone classified one woman in the at-risk group as having lymphedema. CONCLUSION: Segmental BIS classified as many or more cases of lymphedema than whole arm BIS thresholds without finding lymphedema where it was likely not present while also providing additional information regarding the distribution of lymphedema within the limb.

Reference Ranges Using Bioimpedance for Detection of Lymphedema in Chinese Women.

BACKGROUND: Bioimpedance is a commonly used technique for detection of early lymphedema. The thresholds used for detection are based on impedance measurements obtained in Western populations. It is unknown whether these thresholds are applicable to a Chinese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Impedance measurements were obtained for both arms in 391 women, ranging in age from 20 to 84 years, using a standardized protocol. Frequency distributions of interlimb impedance arm ratios for both dominant:non-dominant and non-dominant:dominant were used to determine thresholds at two and three standard deviations (SDs) above the mean. Absolute impedance was significantly higher in the youngest group (20-39 years) compared to other age groups. However, there was no significant effect of age on impedance ratios. Similarly, there was no significant difference between impedance ratios determined in this study and those from recent studies in the Australia and the United States, which used similar protocols. New two and three SDs above the mean thresholds, using a weighted average from the pooled data of these studies are 1.108 and 1.153 for use when the dominant limb is at-risk and 1.072 and 1.116 when the non-dominant limb is at-risk. CONCLUSION: There was no effect of ethnicity on impedance ratios. Consequently, the proposed pooled thresholds can be used, irrespective of ethnicity.

Circumference-Based Criteria for Detection of Secondary Arm Lymphedema for Chinese Women.

BACKGROUND: Detection of upper limb lymphedema following treatment for breast cancer typically relies on interlimb circumference-based differences. Normative-determined criteria from an Australian population have high sensitivity and specificity for detection of mild lymphedema in Australian women. It is unknown whether these criteria are applicable to Chinese women whose body habitus is different from Australian women. The aims of this study, therefore, were to determine the normative-based interlimb circumference and volume differences in a Chinese population and whether specific population-based thresholds are required. METHODS AND RESULTS: Arm circumferences at the wrist and at 10 cm intervals proximally to 40 cm were measured on both the dominant and nondominant limb in 484 healthy women, aged ≥20 years. Absolute interlimb differences and interlimb ratios were determined for the circumferences and derived 10 cm volume segments. Analysis of variance determined if the differences varied, depending on location. The absolute interlimb circumference difference from 10 to 30 cm did not vary significantly, enabling determination of a single threshold applicable to all three circumferences. The interlimb ratios varied less, requiring only a threshold for the wrist and one for 10-40 cm and one ratio for interlimb volume segments. The interlimb thresholds determined in the Chinese population were within 2 mm to that reported in the Australian study. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the habitus of Chinese women living in China differed to the women living in Australia, similar normative-based thresholds for the detection of lymphedema were identified.