Open AccessReducing chronic breast cancer‐related lymphedema utilizing a program of prospective surveillance with bioimpedance spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Whitworth Pat W.,
Cooper Andrea
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the breast journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1524-4741
pISSN - 1075-122X
DOI - 10.1111/tbj.12939
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphedema , breast cancer , prospective cohort study , oncology , cohort , cancer , physical therapy
This single‐institution experience evaluated the use of bioimpedance spectroscopy to facilitate early detection and treatment of breast cancer‐related lymphedema ( BCRL ) in a cohort of 596 patients (79.6% high risk). Seventy‐three patients (12%) developed an elevated L‐Dex score with axillary lymph node dissection ( P < .001), taxane chemotherapy ( P = .008), and regional nodal irradiation ( P < .001) associated. At last follow‐up, only 18 patients (3%) had unresolved clinically significant BCRL requiring complete decongestive physiotherapy. This rate of BCRL is lower than reported in contemporary studies, supporting recent NCCN guidelines promoting prospective screening, education and intervention for BCRL .