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Palpation of Increased Skin and Subcutaneous Thickness, Tissue Dielectric Constant, and Water Displacement Method for Diagnosis of Early Mild Arm Lymphedema

Karlsson, Katarina LU ; Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena ; Brogårdh, Christina LU and Johansson, Karin LU (2020) In Lymphatic Research and Biology 18(3). p.219-225
Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis of mild lymphedema and treatment are important to prevent its progress. The tissue dielectric constant (TDC), measuring local tissue water in the skin and upper subcutis, has neither been related to the water displacement method (WDM) nor been used to diagnose mild arm lymphedema in patients at risk. Our aims were to evaluate TDC and WDM in combination with palpation, examine the association between TDC and WDM measurements, and compare lymphedema-related factors. Methods and Results: Seventy-two women treated for breast cancer were diagnosed with mild arm lymphedema using skin palpation in combination with TDC from fixed measurement sites (threshold ratio for upper arm ≥1.45 and forearm ≥1.3) and/or WDM... (More)

Background: Early diagnosis of mild lymphedema and treatment are important to prevent its progress. The tissue dielectric constant (TDC), measuring local tissue water in the skin and upper subcutis, has neither been related to the water displacement method (WDM) nor been used to diagnose mild arm lymphedema in patients at risk. Our aims were to evaluate TDC and WDM in combination with palpation, examine the association between TDC and WDM measurements, and compare lymphedema-related factors. Methods and Results: Seventy-two women treated for breast cancer were diagnosed with mild arm lymphedema using skin palpation in combination with TDC from fixed measurement sites (threshold ratio for upper arm ≥1.45 and forearm ≥1.3) and/or WDM (lymphedema relative volume [LRV]: ≥5% to ≤8%). Results revealed that 32 (45%) women were diagnosed by TDC only, 19 (26%) by WDM only, and 21 (29%) by both TDC and WDM. TDC ratios exceeding the threshold were most frequently identified on the medial site of the arm, proximal and distal to the antecubital fossa. TDC and WDM were negatively associated; LRV (r = -0.545, p < 0.001). The women diagnosed by TDC only were diagnosed earlier after surgery (p = 0.003) and had a lower LRV (1.3%) than those diagnosed by WDM only (6.3%) or both TDC and WDM (6.2%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: TDC and WDM can be used together for early diagnosis of arm lymphedema, but TDC is the most valid method, determining the diagnosis earlier after surgery and at a lower arm volume than WDM.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
arm lymphedema, breast cancer, diagnosis, tissue dielectric constant, water displacement method
in
Lymphatic Research and Biology
volume
18
issue
3
pages
7 pages
publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85086793050
  • pmid:31596662
ISSN
1539-6851
DOI
10.1089/lrb.2019.0042
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
19d309fb-fe91-44fe-8746-49e2c580f504
date added to LUP
2020-07-08 12:49:14
date last changed
2024-06-26 18:49:02
@article{19d309fb-fe91-44fe-8746-49e2c580f504,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Early diagnosis of mild lymphedema and treatment are important to prevent its progress. The tissue dielectric constant (TDC), measuring local tissue water in the skin and upper subcutis, has neither been related to the water displacement method (WDM) nor been used to diagnose mild arm lymphedema in patients at risk. Our aims were to evaluate TDC and WDM in combination with palpation, examine the association between TDC and WDM measurements, and compare lymphedema-related factors. Methods and Results: Seventy-two women treated for breast cancer were diagnosed with mild arm lymphedema using skin palpation in combination with TDC from fixed measurement sites (threshold ratio for upper arm ≥1.45 and forearm ≥1.3) and/or WDM (lymphedema relative volume [LRV]: ≥5% to ≤8%). Results revealed that 32 (45%) women were diagnosed by TDC only, 19 (26%) by WDM only, and 21 (29%) by both TDC and WDM. TDC ratios exceeding the threshold were most frequently identified on the medial site of the arm, proximal and distal to the antecubital fossa. TDC and WDM were negatively associated; LRV (r = -0.545, p &lt; 0.001). The women diagnosed by TDC only were diagnosed earlier after surgery (p = 0.003) and had a lower LRV (1.3%) than those diagnosed by WDM only (6.3%) or both TDC and WDM (6.2%; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: TDC and WDM can be used together for early diagnosis of arm lymphedema, but TDC is the most valid method, determining the diagnosis earlier after surgery and at a lower arm volume than WDM.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Katarina and Nilsson-Wikmar, Lena and Brogårdh, Christina and Johansson, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1539-6851}},
  keywords     = {{arm lymphedema; breast cancer; diagnosis; tissue dielectric constant; water displacement method}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{219--225}},
  publisher    = {{Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.}},
  series       = {{Lymphatic Research and Biology}},
  title        = {{Palpation of Increased Skin and Subcutaneous Thickness, Tissue Dielectric Constant, and Water Displacement Method for Diagnosis of Early Mild Arm Lymphedema}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2019.0042}},
  doi          = {{10.1089/lrb.2019.0042}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}