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Segmental measurement of breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema using perometry and bioimpedance spectroscopy

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine if bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) could detect localised lymphoedema of the arm and to compare BIS measurements with equivalent measures of limb volume by perometry.

Methods

Women with mild to severe upper limb lymphoedema (n = 29) and women with no history of lymphoedema (n = 11) participated. Commencing at the ulnar styloid of the wrist, 4 × 10 cm segment measurements were made of each arm using both BIS and perometry.

Results

Average BIS inter-limb ratios for the total arm and each arm segment were higher than comparable perometry measures in women with lymphoedema, but similar to perometry measures for women without lymphoedema. Limits of agreement analysis showed that the mean difference between methods varied according to segment measured, ranging from 8.5% for the uppermost segment of the arm to 16.6% for the forearm segment just below the elbow. For all limb segments, there was a positive bias towards BIS measurements, which increased as lymphoedema severity increased.

Conclusion

BIS can be used for localised measurement of lymphoedema. Because it is specific to extracellular fluid, BIS is more sensitive to localised lymphoedema than perometry.

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Acknowledgements

Grant assistance from the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Australia and RT Hall Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Roger Adams is thanked for his statistical assistance.

Declaration of interest

Author L. Ward discloses that he has consulted to ImpediMed Ltd. ImpediMed Ltd. had no involvement, financial or otherwise, in the conception or execution of this study or in the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, PO BOX 170, Lidcombe, Sydney, NSW, 1825, Australia

    Sharon A. Czerniec, Mi-Joung Lee, Kathryn M. Refshauge & Sharon L. Kilbreath

  2. School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Leigh C. Ward

  3. Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Jane Beith

Authors
  1. Sharon A. Czerniec
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  2. Leigh C. Ward
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  3. Mi-Joung Lee
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  4. Kathryn M. Refshauge
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  5. Jane Beith
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  6. Sharon L. Kilbreath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sharon L. Kilbreath.

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Czerniec, S.A., Ward, L.C., Lee, MJ. et al. Segmental measurement of breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema using perometry and bioimpedance spectroscopy. Support Care Cancer 19, 703–710 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0896-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0896-8

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