Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Division of Rehabilitation Science, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 388, 420 Delaware St, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (USA); and Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.
College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, Florida.
Phys Ther. 2020 Aug 12;100(8):1384-1392. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa080.
Following breast cancer surgery with lymph node removal, women are at risk of developing lymphedema in the upper extremity or trunk. Currently, trunk lymphedema diagnosis relies on a clinical assessment because no quantifiable standard method exists. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values are quantifiable measures of localized skin tissue water and may be able to detect trunk lymphedema. The goal of this study was to (1) compare parameters derived from TDC measurements with those derived from clinically accepted criteria for trunk lymphedema in women following breast cancer surgery and (2) explore the potential utility of TDC to detect trunk lymphedema early in its progression.
This prospective longitudinal study, a secondary analysis from a larger study, observed women with and without clinically determined truncal lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. TDC was measured on the lateral trunk wall at post-surgery weeks 2, 4, 12, and 78 in women who had surgical breast cancer treatment with lymph node removal. Clinical assessment for trunk lymphedema was determined at 78 weeks by a lymphedema expert. Comparison of TDC measurements in women with and without clinical trunk lymphedema was analyzed.
Clinical assessment identified trunk lymphedema in 15 out of 32 women at 78 weeks. These women had TDC ratios statistically higher than women without truncal lymphedema.
The overall findings indicate that TDC has the ability to quantify trunk lymphedema and might be valuable in early detection.
TDC may be a beneficial tool in the early detection of breast cancer-related trunk lymphedema, which could trigger intervention.
A new device may help recognize trunk lymphedema in patients with breast cancer so they could receive appropriate treatment.
乳腺癌手术后进行淋巴结清扫的女性，上肢或躯干有发生淋巴水肿的风险。目前，躯干淋巴水肿的诊断依赖于临床评估，因为不存在可量化的标准方法。组织介电常数（TDC）值是局部皮肤组织水分的可量化指标，可能能够检测躯干淋巴水肿。本研究的目的是：（1）比较 TDC 测量参数与乳腺癌手术后女性躯干淋巴水肿临床公认标准的参数；（2）探索 TDC 在早期检测躯干淋巴水肿方面的潜在应用价值。
本前瞻性纵向研究是一项更大研究的二次分析，观察了乳腺癌手术后临床确定有和没有躯干淋巴水肿的女性。对接受过腋窝淋巴结清扫的乳腺癌手术治疗的女性，在术后第 2、4、12 和 78 周时，在侧躯干壁上测量 TDC。在第 78 周时，由淋巴水肿专家通过临床评估来确定躯干淋巴水肿。分析了患有和不患有临床躯干淋巴水肿的女性的 TDC 测量值的差异。
临床评估在第 78 周时发现 32 名女性中有 15 名患有躯干淋巴水肿。这些女性的 TDC 比值明显高于没有躯干淋巴水肿的女性。
总体研究结果表明，TDC 具有量化躯干淋巴水肿的能力，可能对早期检测有价值。
TDC 可能是一种有助于早期检测乳腺癌相关躯干淋巴水肿的有用工具，这可能会触发干预措施。
一种新设备或有助于识别患有乳腺癌的患者的躯干淋巴水肿，以便他们接受适当的治疗。
