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Local Tissue Water Variations in Women at Risk of Developing Arm Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Treatment-A Retrospective Study

Blom, Katarina LU ; Brogårdh, Christina LU ; Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena ; Sackey, Helena and Johansson, Karin LU (2026) In Lymphatic Research and Biology 24(3). p.107-113
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) is essential to prevent progression. Local tissue water (LTW) can be assessed using the tissue dielectric constant (TDC), enabling detection before an increase of arm volume occurs. However, knowledge of the variation of LTW during cancer treatment and appropriate LTW thresholds for early detection of BCRAL is limited. The aim of this study was to examine differences in LTW between the arms, assess changes in LTW in each arm during adjuvant treatment, and calculate theoretical inter-arm thresholds for BCRAL. METHOD AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 120 women treated with axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. At 4-6... (More)

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) is essential to prevent progression. Local tissue water (LTW) can be assessed using the tissue dielectric constant (TDC), enabling detection before an increase of arm volume occurs. However, knowledge of the variation of LTW during cancer treatment and appropriate LTW thresholds for early detection of BCRAL is limited. The aim of this study was to examine differences in LTW between the arms, assess changes in LTW in each arm during adjuvant treatment, and calculate theoretical inter-arm thresholds for BCRAL. METHOD AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 120 women treated with axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. At 4-6 weeks post-surgery, LTW was significantly higher in the contralateral upper arm and the forearm at the lateral site compared to the ipsilateral arm. At 3-4 months post-radiotherapy, LTW remained higher in the contralateral upper arm at the lateral site and the forearm at the medial site. LTW decreased at the medial site of the ipsilateral upper arm and at the ventral site of the contralateral upper arm. Potential TDC ratio thresholds to detect BCRAL, including 3 SD, were calculated as 1.40 in the upper arm and 1.30 in the forearm. CONCLUSION: At both follow-ups, LTW was higher in the contralateral arm at specific sites compared to the ipsilateral arm and decreased at specific sites in both arms during oncological treatment. The calculated TDC thresholds may improve detection of BCRAL and enhance the interpretation of lymphedema status during oncological treatment.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
axillary lymph node dissection, breast cancer, local tissue water, oncological treatment, radiotherapy, tissue dielectric constant
in
Lymphatic Research and Biology
volume
24
issue
3
pages
7 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:41640124
  • scopus:105039812700
ISSN
1539-6851
DOI
10.1177/15578585261419366
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
24d48d0a-b469-4eca-810e-cd4b1e8bfe77
date added to LUP
2026-07-02 09:53:10
date last changed
2026-07-16 11:55:23
@article{24d48d0a-b469-4eca-810e-cd4b1e8bfe77,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema (BCRAL) is essential to prevent progression. Local tissue water (LTW) can be assessed using the tissue dielectric constant (TDC), enabling detection before an increase of arm volume occurs. However, knowledge of the variation of LTW during cancer treatment and appropriate LTW thresholds for early detection of BCRAL is limited. The aim of this study was to examine differences in LTW between the arms, assess changes in LTW in each arm during adjuvant treatment, and calculate theoretical inter-arm thresholds for BCRAL. METHOD AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included 120 women treated with axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. At 4-6 weeks post-surgery, LTW was significantly higher in the contralateral upper arm and the forearm at the lateral site compared to the ipsilateral arm. At 3-4 months post-radiotherapy, LTW remained higher in the contralateral upper arm at the lateral site and the forearm at the medial site. LTW decreased at the medial site of the ipsilateral upper arm and at the ventral site of the contralateral upper arm. Potential TDC ratio thresholds to detect BCRAL, including 3 SD, were calculated as 1.40 in the upper arm and 1.30 in the forearm. CONCLUSION: At both follow-ups, LTW was higher in the contralateral arm at specific sites compared to the ipsilateral arm and decreased at specific sites in both arms during oncological treatment. The calculated TDC thresholds may improve detection of BCRAL and enhance the interpretation of lymphedema status during oncological treatment.</p>}},
  author       = {{Blom, Katarina and Brogårdh, Christina and Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena and Sackey, Helena and Johansson, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1539-6851}},
  keywords     = {{axillary lymph node dissection; breast cancer; local tissue water; oncological treatment; radiotherapy; tissue dielectric constant}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{107--113}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Lymphatic Research and Biology}},
  title        = {{Local Tissue Water Variations in Women at Risk of Developing Arm Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Treatment-A Retrospective Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/15578585261419366}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/15578585261419366}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}