Single frequency versus bioimpedance spectroscopy for the assessment of lymphedema

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 177 - 182
• Main Authors: York, S. L, Ward, L. C, Czerniec, S, Lee, M. J, Refshauge, K. M, Kilbreath, S. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.09.2009; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arm - pathology; Arms; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Body fluids; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Brief Report; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the lymphatic vessels; Electric Impedance; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Leg - pathology; Legs; Lymph Node Excision - adverse effects; Lymphatic system; Lymphedema - diagnosis; Lymphedema - etiology; Mammary gland diseases; Medical diagnosis; Medical disorders; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Spectrum analysis; Tumors; Single frequency bioimpedance; Breast cancer; Multiple frequency bioimpedance; Bioimpedance spectroscopy; Lymphedema; Evaluation; Breast disease; Exploration; Cardiovascular disease; Malignant tumor; Lymphatic vessel disease; Mammary gland diseases; Spectrometry; Frequency; Comparative study; Cancer
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1007/s10549-008-0090-6

Background The aims were to determine (i) whether single frequency bioimpedance analysis (SFBIA) is as accurate as bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in measurement of extracellular fluid and (ii) whether change in extracellular fluid was specific to only the limb directly affected by surgery. Methods Arms of the control (n = 28) and arm lymphedema group (n = 28) and legs of the leg lymphedema group (n = 16) were assessed with SFBIA. All four limbs in all participants were assessed with BIS. All measurements occurred in a single session. Results BIS-measured ratios were highly concordant with those obtained with SFBIA (r c = 0.99, P < 0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the ratio involving the lymphedema limb was different to the ratio of the non-oedematous limbs which was not significantly different to the arm or leg ratios of the control group. Conclusions SFBIA is a simple accurate alternative to BIS for the clinical assessment of unilateral lymphedema. BIS discriminates those with clinical diagnosis of unilateral lymhoedema from those without the diagnosis.