Long-Term Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 11; no. 22; p. 6747
• Main Authors: Lee, Jong-Hwa, Kim, Sang-Beom, Lee, Kyeong-Woo, Ha, Won-Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Body composition; Breast cancer; breast cancer related lymphedema; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Clinical medicine; Disability; Edema; Elbow; extracorporeal shockwave therapy; FDA approval; fibrosis; Inflammation; Lithotripsy; long-term effect; Lymphatic system; Lymphedema; Mastectomy; Proteins; Questionnaires; Radiation therapy; Skin care; Statistical significance; Tissue engineering; United States > US; long-term effect; breast cancer related lymphedema; fibrosis; extracorporeal shockwave therapy
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226747

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). However, evidence of the long-term effectiveness of ESWT on BCRL is sparse. The aim of the study was to investigate whether ESWT has long-term effects on BCRL. We enrolled patients with stage 2 lymphedema. The 28 female patients were randomly divided into the ESWT group (n = 14) and the control group (n = 14). ESWT was applied thrice a week for a total of 3 weeks with an intensity of 0.056 to 0.068 mJ/mm and a frequency of 4 Hz. Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) was applied in both groups. The arm circumference, fluid volume, ratio of water content, and skin thickness were measured. Patients were evaluated at before treatment, 3 weeks after ESWT completion, and 3 months post-ESWT completion. The ESWT group, the circumference of the whole arm, volume, ratio of water content, QuickDASH score, and skin thickness showed statistically significant improvement at 3 weeks and 3 months post-treatment. When comparing the changes in measurement between the two groups at 3 weeks and 3 months post-treatment, ESWT group showed statistically significant improvement in circumference (cm) below the elbow, ratio of water content and skin thickness at 3 weeks and 3 months post treatment. Overall, ESWT improved lymphedema in patients with stage 2 BCRL, and the effects persisted for at least 3 months. Therefore, ESWT may be an additional treatment method for patients with lymphedema.