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Change in blood flow velocity demonstrated by Doppler ultrasound in upper limb after axillary dissection surgery for the treatment of breast cancer

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the arterial and venous blood flow in women who underwent upper limb axillary dissection surgery for the treatment of breast cancer. Sixty women were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1)—30 women who underwent breast surgery with axillary dissection level II or III (55.6 ± 8.6 years); group 2 (G2)—control, 30 women with no breast cancer (57.4 ± 7.0 years). Blood flow profile was evaluated by a continuous wave ultrasound Doppler device (Nicolet Vascular Versalab SE®) with an 8 MHz probe. Axillary, brachial arteries and veins, arm circumference, volumes, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) were examined. Wilcoxon test and Mann–Whitney tests were applied to analyze blood flow velocity intra-group and between G1 and G2, respectively. The G1 results showed no lymphedema and no peripheral arterial disease (ABI > 0.9). Moreover, the mean blood flow velocity of the vessels ipsilateral to the surgery was significantly higher than the contralateral ones for all vessels examined (P < 0.05). The mean velocity of blood flow of the vessels contralateral to surgery was significantly higher than the axillary artery in G2 (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that women who underwent axillary dissection due to breast cancer showed probable stenosis in the arterial and venous axillary and brachial vessels of the upper limb ipsilateral to the surgery, confirmed by the increase of blood flow velocity, and such obstruction might affect the limb contralateral to the operation site.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Therapy Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, Brazil

    Carolina Nascimben Matheus

  2. Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro

  3. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Curso de Fisioterapia, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP 14.049-900, Brazil

    Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro

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Correspondence to Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro.

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Nascimben Matheus, C., Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro, E. Change in blood flow velocity demonstrated by Doppler ultrasound in upper limb after axillary dissection surgery for the treatment of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 127, 697–704 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1456-8

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