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Kageyama T, Shiko Y, Kawasaki Y, Miyazaki T, Sakai H, Tsukuura R, Yamamoto T. Three-dimensional non-contrast magnetic resonance lymphography severity stage for upper extremity lymphedema. Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 107:24-32. [PMID: 38181836 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSES Non-contrast magnetic resonance lymphography (NMRL) has recently shown the capability of evaluating anatomical fluid distribution in upper extremity lymphedema (UEL). However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the correlation between the characteristic three-dimensional (3D) NMRL findings and the indocyanine green lymphography (ICG-L) findings. Our goal was to clarify the relationship between the 3D NMRL findings and the ICG-L findings. METHODS Medical charts of patients with secondary UEL who underwent NMRL and ICG-L between January 2018 to October 2021 were reviewed. The upper extremities were divided into 6 regions; the hand, elbow, and the radial and ulnar aspects of the forearm and the upper arm. We investigated the prevalence of characteristic 3D NMRL patterns (Mist/Spray/Inky) in each region based on the ICG-L stage. We also examined the association between the 3D NMRL stage which we proposed and the ICG-L stage, and other clinical factors. RESULTS A total of 150 regions of 25 patients with upper extremities lymphedema were enrolled in the study. All of the characteristic patterns increased significantly as the ICG-L stage advanced (p < 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). The predominant NMRL patterns changed significantly from the Early pattern (Mist pattern) to the Advanced pattern (Inky/Spray pattern) as the ICG-L stage progressed (p < 0.001). The higher Stage of 3D NMRL was significantly associated with the progression of the ICG-L stage (rs = 0.80, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Characteristic 3D NMRL patterns and the 3D NMRL Stage had a significant relationship with the ICG-L stage and other clinical parameters. This information may be an efficient tool for a more precise and objective evaluation of various treatments for UEL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kageyama
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yuki Shiko
- Research Administration Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yohei Kawasaki
- Research Administration Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Toko Miyazaki
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hayahito Sakai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Reiko Tsukuura
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Yamamoto
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Trinh XT, Chien PN, Long NV, Van Anh LT, Giang NN, Nam SY, Myung Y. Development of predictive models for lymphedema by using blood tests and therapy data. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19720. [PMID: 37957217 PMCID: PMC10643602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46567-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphedema is a disease that refers to tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that is usually drained through the lymphatic system. Detection of lymphedema is often based on expensive diagnoses such as bioimpedance spectroscopy, shear wave elastography, computed tomography, etc. In current machine learning models for lymphedema prediction, reliance on observable symptoms reported by patients introduces the possibility of errors in patient-input data. Moreover, these symptoms are often absent during the initial stages of lymphedema, creating challenges in its early detection. Identifying lymphedema before these observable symptoms manifest would greatly benefit patients by potentially minimizing the discomfort caused by these symptoms. In this study, we propose to use new data, such as complete blood count, serum, and therapy data, to develop predictive models for lymphedema. This approach aims to compensate for the limitations of using only observable symptoms data. We collected data from 2137 patients, including 356 patients with lymphedema and 1781 patients without lymphedema, with the lymphedema status of each patient confirmed by clinicians. The data for each patient included: (1) a complete blood count (CBC) test, (2) a serum test, and (3) therapy information. We used various machine learning algorithms (i.e. random forest, gradient boosting, decision tree, logistic regression, and artificial neural network) to develop predictive models on the training dataset (i.e. 80% of the data) and evaluated the models on the external validation dataset (i.e. 20% of the data). After selecting the best predictive models, we created a web application to aid medical doctors and clinicians in the rapid screening of lymphedema patients. A dataset of 2137 patients was assembled from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Predictive models based on the random forest algorithm exhibited satisfactory performance (balanced accuracy = 87.0 ± 0.7%, sensitivity = 84.3 ± 0.6%, specificity = 89.1 ± 1.5%, precision = 97.4 ± 0.7%, F1 score = 90.4 ± 0.4%, and AUC = 0.931 ± 0.007). We developed a web application to facilitate the swift screening of lymphedema among medical practitioners: https://snubhtxt.shinyapps.io/SNUBH_Lymphedema . Our study introduces a novel tool for the early detection of lymphedema and establishes the foundation for future investigations into predicting different stages of the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan-Tung Trinh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Pham Ngoc Chien
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen-Van Long
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Le Thi Van Anh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Ngan Giang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Device Development, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Young Nam
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yujin Myung
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea.
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Anik AR, Hasan K, Islam MM, Hasan MM, Ali MF, Das SK. Non-Invasive Portable Technologies for Monitoring Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema to Facilitate Telehealth: A Scoping Review. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2023; 27:4524-4535. [PMID: 37247315 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2023.3280196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common, debilitating condition that can affect up to one in five breast cancer surviving patients (BCSP). BCRL can significantly reduce the quality of life (QOL) of patients and poses a significant challenge to healthcare providers. Early detection and continuous monitoring of lymphedema is crucial for the development of client-centered treatment plans for post-cancer surgery patients. Therefore, this comprehensive scoping review aimed to investigate the current technology methods used for the remote monitoring of BCRL and their potential to facilitate telehealth in the treatment of lymphedema. Initially, five electronic databases were systematically searched and analyzed following the PRISMA flow diagram. Studies were included, specifically if they provided data on the effectiveness of the intervention and were designed for the remote monitoring of BCRL. A total of 25 included studies reported 18 technological solutions to remotely monitor BCRL with significant methodological variation. Additionally, the technologies were categorized by method of detection and wearability. The findings of this comprehensive scoping review indicate that state-of-the-art commercial technologies were found to be more appropriate for clinical use than home monitoring, with portable 3D imaging tools being popular (SD 53.40) and accurate (correlation 0.9, p 0.05) for evaluating lymphedema in both clinic and home settings with expert practitioners and therapists. However, wearable technologies showed the most future potential for accessible and clinical long-term lymphedema management with positive telehealth outcomes. In conclusion, the absence of a viable telehealth device highlights the need for urgent research to develop a wearable device that can effectively track BCRL and facilitate remote monitoring, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients following post-cancer treatment.
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Son JH, Min JH, Kim IH, Lee SY, Lee CH. The Clinical Usefulness of Ultrasonographic Measurement Technique in Patients with Lower Extremity Lymphedema. Lymphat Res Biol 2023; 21:20-27. [PMID: 35763325 DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2021.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A previous study reported a new ultrasonography (US) measurement technique to evaluate the cross-sectional area (ΔCSA) of lymphedema in the upper extremity. This ΔCSA correlated well with parameters, such as the circumference, volumetry, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in healthy people and upper extremity lymphedema patients. This study examined whether a US measurement technique is clinically useful in patients with lymphedema in the lower extremity. Methods and Results: Forty patients diagnosed with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema were enrolled in this study. The subjects' leg circumference, BIA, isokinetic strength, and ΔCSA were examined on the same day. The leg circumference was measured at 15 cm above the knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) crease using a tape measure. BIA was performed by a trained physical therapist, and the data of impedance (Z) at 1 and 5 kHz of each side of the lower limbs and extracellular water (ECW) were used. A fully experienced physician measured soft tissue thickness, the distance between the skin and the fascia of the muscle, three times each at the anterior, medial, posterior, and lateral aspects of the bilateral legs by US at 15 cm AK and BK. The amount of soft tissue in the ΔCSA was calculated using the designed formula from the mean values of the thicknesses. Each parameter was calculated as the ratio of the sound side to the lesion side. The Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess the significance of these parameters. The ratio of ΔCSA measured at 15 cm AK and BK showed strong positive correlations with the circumference difference at the same level (rho = 0.790, p = 0.000, and rho = 0.882, p = 0.000, respectively). In addition, it showed moderate or strong correlations with the ratio of Z at 5 and 1 kHz in the BIA of the lower limbs (AK15, r = -0.511, p = 0.001 and r = -0.497, p = 0.001; BK15, r = -0.780, p = 0.000 and r = -0.756, p = 0.000, respectively). Although ECW and body mass index showed weak positive correlations with the ratio of ΔCSA measured at 15 cm BK, there was no significant correlation between the ratio of ΔCSA and the isokinetic muscle strength. Conclusion: The ΔCSA results showed moderate-to-strong correlations with other conveniently used methods except for the isokinetic muscle strength. As the US ΔCSA technique could measure lymphedema status with a structural consideration, it could also be recommended as a conventional measurement method in patients with upper and lower extremity lymphedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Hyun Son
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hong Min
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - In Hye Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yoon Lee
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Hyung Lee
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
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Lee DG, Cho JH. Can Tissue Stiffness Measured Using Shear-Wave Elastography Represent Lymphedema in Breast Cancer? Lymphat Res Biol 2022; 20:607-611. [PMID: 35394367 DOI: 10.1089/lrb.2021.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Lymphedema causes skin and subcutaneous fibrosis. However, quantitative methods for estimating the severity of fibrosis due to lymphedema have not been established. We evaluated skin stiffness using shear-wave elastography (SWE) and aimed to identify stiffness-associated factors in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Methods and Results: Thirty-six women (mean age, 57.5 ± 1.78 years; range, 39-77 years) were retrospectively recruited for this study. The mid-arm and mid-forearm circumferences were measured. The percentage differences in arm and forearm circumferences were used as an indicator of the severity of lymphedema at the time of SWE measurement and the measurement taken when the symptoms were most severe. Not subcutaneous tissues but cutaneous tissues of the affected arm and forearm showed a significant increase in shear-wave velocity (SWV) compared with those of the unaffected side. However, SWV was not correlated with the severity of lymphedema as a percentage difference when symptoms were most severe. Body mass index and lymphedema duration showed no significant correlation with the SWV of cutaneous tissues on the affected upper extremities. Conclusions: SWE can adequately estimate cutaneous fibrosis between the affected and unaffected limbs in patients with BCRL. However, evaluation of subcutaneous fibrosis is limited. Therefore, SWE can be an effective tool for evaluating cutaneous fibrosis in patients with BCRL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Gyu Lee
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Yeungnam University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jang Hyuk Cho
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
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Manrique OJ, Bustos SS, Ciudad P, Adabi K, Chen WF, Forte AJ, Cheville AL, Jakub JW, McLaughlin SA, Chen HC. Overview of Lymphedema for Physicians and Other Clinicians: A Review of Fundamental Concepts. Mayo Clin Proc 2022; 97:1920-1935. [PMID: 32829905 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lymphedema has historically been underrated in clinical practice, education, and scholarship to the detriment of many patients with this chronic, debilitating condition. The mechanical insufficiency of the lymphatic system causes the abnormal accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitium, which triggers a cascade of adverse consequences such as fat deposition and fibrosis. As the condition progresses, patients present with extremity heaviness, itchiness, skin infections, and, in later stages, dermal fibrosis, skin papillomas, acanthosis, and other trophic skin changes. Correspondingly, lymphedema results in psychological morbidity, including anxiety, depression, social avoidance, and a decreased quality of life, encompassing emotional, functional, physical, and social domains. For this review, we conducted a literature search using PubMed and EMBASE and herein summarize the evidence related to the fundamental concepts of lymphedema. This article aims to raise awareness of this serious condition and outline and review the fundamental concepts of lymphedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar J Manrique
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
| | - Samyd S Bustos
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Pedro Ciudad
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital, Lima, Peru
| | - Kian Adabi
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Wei F Chen
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City
| | | | - Andrea L Cheville
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | | | - Hung-Chi Chen
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Maita K, Garcia JP, Torres RA, Avila FR, Kaplan JL, Lu X, Manrique OJ, Ciudad P, Forte AJ. Imaging biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment response in patients with lymphedema. Biomark Med 2022; 16:303-316. [PMID: 35176878 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2021-0487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphedema is defined as a dysfunction of the lymphatic system producing an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the surrounding tissue, as well as edema and fibrosis. A total of 250 million people worldwide are affected by this condition. Greater than 99% of these cases are related to a secondary cause. As there is a lack of curative therapy, the goal involves early diagnosis, in order to prevent the progression of the disease. Additionally, early diagnosis can aid in decreasing the demand for more complex surgical procedures. Currently, there is an impressive breadth of diagnostic tests available for these patients. We aimed to review the available literature in relation to the utilization of imaging biomarkers for the early diagnosis and treatment response in lymphedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Maita
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - John P Garcia
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Ricardo A Torres
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Francisco R Avila
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Jamie L Kaplan
- Division of General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Xiaona Lu
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Oscar J Manrique
- Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Pedro Ciudad
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Burn Surgery, Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital, Lima, Peru
| | - Antonio J Forte
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
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Wei X, Lu Q, Jin S, Li F, Zhao Q, Cui Y, Jin S, Cao Y, Fu MR. Developing and validating a prediction model for lymphedema detection in breast cancer survivors. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2021; 54:102023. [PMID: 34500318 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Early detection and intervention of lymphedema is essential for improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Previous studies have shown that patients have symptoms such as arm tightness and arm heaviness before experiencing obvious limb swelling. Thus, this study aimed to develop a symptom-warning model for the early detection of breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Beijing between April 2017 and December 2018. A total of 24 lymphedema-associated symptoms were identified as candidate predictors. Circumferential measurements were used to diagnose lymphedema. The data were randomly split into training and validation sets with a 7:3 ratio to derive and evaluate six machine learning models. Both the discrimination and calibration of each model were assessed on the validation set. RESULTS A total of 533 patients were included in the study. The logistic regression model showed the best performance for early detection of lymphedema, with AUC = 0.889 (0.840-0.938), sensitivity = 0.771, specificity = 0.883, accuracy = 0.825, and Brier scores = 0.141. Calibration was also acceptable. It has been deployed as an open-access web application, allowing users to estimate the probability of lymphedema individually in real time. The application can be found at https://apredictiontoolforlymphedema.shinyapps.io/dynnomapp/. CONCLUSION The symptom-warning model developed by logistic regression performed well in the early detection of lymphedema. Integrating this model into an open-access web application is beneficial to patients and healthcare providers to monitor lymphedema status in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Wei
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Lu
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China.
| | - Sanli Jin
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Fenglian Li
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Quanping Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, People's Hospital, Peking University, 100044, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Department of Breast Surgery, People's Hospital, Peking University, 100044, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Jin
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Yiwei Cao
- Division of Medical & Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Mei R Fu
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Nursing, Camden, USA
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Gasteratos K, Morsi-Yeroyannis A, Vlachopoulos NC, Spyropoulou GA, Del Corral G, Chaiyasate K. Microsurgical techniques in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review of efficacy and patient outcomes. Breast Cancer 2021; 28:1002-1015. [PMID: 34254232 PMCID: PMC8354929 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-021-01274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Secondary lymphedema is the abnormal collection of lymphatic fluid within subcutaneous structures. Patients with lymphedema suffer a low quality of life. In our study, we aim to provide a systematic review of the current data on patient outcomes regarding breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), and the most prevalent reconstructive techniques. METHODS A PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus literature search was performed in September 2020. Studies were screened based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), and it was reported in line with the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). RESULTS The search yielded 254 papers from 2010 to 2020. 67 were included in our study. Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA)-a minimally invasive procedure diverting the lymph into the dermal venous drainage system-combined with postoperative bandaging and compression garments yields superior results with minimal donor site lymphedema morbidity. Vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT)-another microsurgical technique, often combined with autologous free flap breast reconstruction-improves lymphedema and brachial plexus neuropathies, and reduces the risk of cellulitis. The combination of LVA and VLNT or with other methods maximizes their effectiveness. Vascularized lymph vessel transfer (VLVT) consists of harvesting certain lymph vessels, sparing the donor site's lymph nodes. CONCLUSION Together with integrated lymphedema therapy, proper staging, and appropriate selection of procedure, safe and efficient surgical techniques can be beneficial to many patients with BCRL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Gasteratos
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Gabriel Del Corral
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kongkrit Chaiyasate
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, William Beaumont and Beaumont Children's Hospital, 3555 W 13 Mile Rd, Suite N120, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, USA.
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Wang J, Ben Z, Gao S, Lyu S, Wei X. The role of ultrasound elastography and virtual touch tissue imaging in the personalized prediction of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. Gland Surg 2021; 10:1460-1469. [PMID: 33968697 DOI: 10.21037/gs-21-199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background This study examined the effects of different ultrasound imaging technologies in the identification and prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. It also investigated the relationship between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and axillary lymph node metastasis. Methods Eighty-five female patients diagnosed with breast masses participated in this study. Each patient underwent a conventional ultrasound, ultrasonic elastography, and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ). The differential diagnosis efficiency of a conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elastography, VTIQ, and ultrasound elastography combined with VTIQ technology was compared with a pathological diagnosis, which represents the gold standard. 85 axillary lymph node tissues and 25 normal breast tissues were used to detect HPV positive infection rate differences in different tissues. Results The results showed that metastatic lymph nodes and reactive lymph node hyperplasia accounted for 54.12% and 45.88% of the 85 axillary lymph nodes of breast cancer, respectively. The conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elastography, and VTIQ scores of metastatic lymph nodes were significantly higher than those of reactive lymph node hyperplasia (P<0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity (Se) (91.30%), specificity (Sp) (92.31%), accuracy (Ac) (91.76%), positive predictive value (PPV) (93.33%), and negative predictive value (NPV) (90.00%) of ultrasound elastography combined with VTIQ technology were the highest among the diagnostic efficiency test results of different computer ultrasound imaging technologies. The positive infection rate of HPV in metastatic lymph node tissues was significantly higher than that in reactive lymph node hyperplasia and normal breast tissues (P<0.05). Conclusions Combining ultrasound elastography with VTIQ technology has high value in the differential diagnosis of axillary lymph nodes of breast cancer. Further, it appears that HPV infection may have an etiological role in lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhifei Ben
- Department of Ultrasound, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Department of Ultrasound, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Shuyi Lyu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiuzhi Wei
- Department of Ultrasound, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
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Ultrasound Vibroelastography for Evaluation of Secondary Extremity Lymphedema: A Clinical Pilot Study. Ann Plast Surg 2020; 85:S92-S96. [PMID: 32530852 DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000002448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphedema treatment is an ongoing challenge. It impacts quality of life due to pain, loss of range of motion of the extremity, and repeated episodes of cellulitis. Different modalities have been used to evaluate lymphedema; some are more error-prone and some are more invasive. However, these measurements are poorly standardized, and intrarater and interrater reliabilities are difficult to achieve. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of ultrasound vibroelastography for assessing patients with extremity lymphedema via measuring shear wave speeds of subcutaneous tissues. METHODS Patients with clinical and lymphoscintigraphic diagnosis of secondary lymphedema in the extremities without prior surgical treatment were included. A 0.1-s harmonic vibration was generated at three frequencies (100, 150, and 200 Hz) by the indenter of a handheld shaker on the skin. An ultrasound probe was used for noninvasively capturing of wave propagation in the subcutaneous tissue. Wave speeds were measured in the subcutaneous tissues of both the control and affected extremities. RESULTS A total of 11 female patients with secondary lymphedema in the extremities were enrolled in this study. The magnitudes of the wave speeds of the region of interest in the subcutaneous tissue at lymphedema sites in the upper extremity (3.9 ± 0.17 m/s, 5.96 ± 0.67 m/s, and 7.41 ± 1.09 m/s) were statistically higher than those of the control sites (2.1 ± 0.27 m/s, 2.93 ± 0.57 m/s, and 3.56 ± 0.76 m/s) at 100, 150, and 200 Hz (P < 0.05), and at 100 and 200 Hz (P < 0.05) between lymphedema (4.33 ± 0.35 m/s, 4.17 ± 1.00 m/s, and 4.56 ± 0.37 m/s) and controls sites (2.48 ± 0.43 m/s, 2.77 ± 0.55 m/s, and 3.06 ± 0.29 m/s) in the lower extremity. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data suggest that ultrasound vibroelastography may be useful in the evaluation of secondary lymphedema and can be a valuable tool to noninvasively track treatment progress.
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Forte AJ, Huayllani MT, Boczar D, Cinotto G, Ciudad P, Manrique OJ, Lu X, McLaughlin SA. The basics of ultrasound elastography for diagnosis, assessment, and staging breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review of the literature. Gland Surg 2020; 9:589-595. [PMID: 32420294 DOI: 10.21037/gs.2020.02.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) incidence has been increasing overtime. Currently, there is not a preferred imaging tool for diagnosis, staging, and assessment of the disease. We aim to review the use of ultrasound elastography (UE) in BCRL patients. A systematic review was performed by querying PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid Healthstar, and Ovid Medline databases for studies that evaluated the use of UE in BCRL. The keywords "elastography" AND "lymphedema" in titles and abstracts were used for the search. The search retrieved 12, 12, 5 and 6 articles in each database, respectively. From these, only 4 met the inclusion criteria. UE methods included two-dimensional strain imaging, shear wave elastography (SWE), and global UE. Two of the studies evaluated the use of UE in the assessment of BCRL, while only 1 considered its use for diagnosis and staging. Based on our systematic review, UE appears to be a great tool in the assessment of BCRL to differentiate affected from non-affected arms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J Forte
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Maria T Huayllani
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Daniel Boczar
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Gabriela Cinotto
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Pedro Ciudad
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Xiaona Lu
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Polat AV, Ozturk M, Polat AK, Karabacak U, Bekci T, Murat N. Efficacy of Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography for the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2020; 39:795-803. [PMID: 31705687 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility of ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of breast cancer-related lymphedema. METHODS Forty-one patients with a history of unilateral breast surgery and axillary dissection or sentinel lymph node excision were included in this prospective study. The patients were classified as having normal findings, latent lymphedema, and clinical lymphedema on the basis of a physical examination, lymphedema index scores, and limb circumference measurements. The thickness and stiffness of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of the forearm and arm were measured by ultrasound and SWE. The thickness and stiffness of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of the affected limb and contralateral limbs of the normal, latent lymphedema, and clinical lymphedema groups were compared. RESULTS The mean age ± SD of the 41 patients was 55.42 ± 10.12 years. There were 15 patients with normal findings, 10 with latent lymphedema, and 16 with clinical lymphedema. In the latent lymphedema group, the thickness measurements of the cutaneous tissue of the affected forearm and the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of the affected arm were significantly greater than those of the contralateral forearm and arm (P = .034; P = .022; and P = .002, respectively), and the stiffness measurements of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of the affected forearm were significantly greater than those of the contralateral forearm (P = .011; and P = .002). In the clinical lymphedema group, the thickness and stiffness measurements of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of the affected forearm and arm were significantly greater than those of the contralateral limb (P < .001-P = .032). CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound and SWE are effective for diagnosing breast cancer-related lymphedema even at a latent stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Veysel Polat
- Departments of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Mesut Ozturk
- Departments of Radiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ayfer Kamali Polat
- General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ufuk Karabacak
- General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Tumay Bekci
- Department of Radiology, Giresun University Faculty of Medicine, Giresun, Turkey
| | - Naci Murat
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Engineering, Samsun, Turkey
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Wang RY, Zhang YW, Gao ZM, Wang XM. Role of sonoelastography in assessment of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Radiol 2019; 75:320.e1-320.e7. [PMID: 31892406 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2019.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of shear-wave elastography (SWE) and strain elastography (SE) for axillary lymph nodes (ALNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched until September 2018. Weighted mean difference was calculated for continuous variables. The accuracy of sonoelastography was assessed by calculating pooled sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). All data were analysed using Stata 12.0. RESULTS Ten studies with 1,038 ALNs were included in the meta-analysis. Five studies evaluated the use of SE, and the other five evaluated the SWE. The SWE stiffness values of malignant ALNs were significantly higher than those of benign nodes. Both SE and SWE have relatively high specificity and sensitivity. The max stiffness in SWE showed the highest specificity (0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-0.98), PLR (12.1; 95% CI, 4-36.5), NLR (0.29; 95% CI, 0.12-0.69), AUC (0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.96), and DOR (42; 95% CI, 12-154); in contrast, the mean stiffness showed the highest sensitivity (0.80; 95% CI, 0.61-0.91). CONCLUSION Sonoelastography demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating between malignant and benign ALNs. The max and mean stiffness on SWE appeared to exhibit the highest accuracy. Thus, SWE is an effective accompaniment to sentinel node biopsy, and is appropriate for preoperative assessment of ALNs in the post-Z0011 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Y Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang City, 110001, China
| | - Y W Zhang
- Department of Second Clinical College, China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang City, 110001, China
| | - Z M Gao
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang City, 110001, China
| | - X M Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang City, 110001, China.
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Forte AJ, Huayllani MT, Boczar D, Cinotto G, McLaughlin SA. Ultrasound Elastography Use in Lower Extremity Lymphedema: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Cureus 2019; 11:e5578. [PMID: 31695997 PMCID: PMC6820675 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) is mainly assessed clinically. Ultrasound elastography (UE) is a promising imaging tool to assess this disorder. We conducted a systematic literature review to describe the studies evaluating the use of UE in LEL. The PubMed database was queried for studies that evaluated the use of UE in LEL. The keywords "elastography" AND "lymphedema" were used for the search. Original articles in English were included in our study, whereas reviews were excluded. Our search resulted in 12 articles, 4 of which met the inclusion criteria. UE methods included free-hand real-time tissue elastography and UE with transducer in B mode. The imaging parameters applied were the tissue strains and the area of red region, respectively. All studies tested UE use in the assessment of LEL, and only one considered its use for staging. All studies but one found a difference in strain parameters for assessment of patients with LEL. Our systematic review has shown that UE appears to be a great tool in the assessment of LEL in moderate-to-advanced stages of disease. However, further studies using new effective methods are needed to evaluate patients with early lymphedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J Forte
- Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Maria T Huayllani
- Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Daniel Boczar
- Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Gabriela Cinotto
- Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Sarah A McLaughlin
- Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Jacksonville, USA
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Mander A, Venosi S, Menegatti E, Byung-Boong L, Neuhardt D, Maietti E, Gianesini S. Upper limb secondary lymphedema ultrasound mapping and characterization. INT ANGIOL 2019; 38:334-342. [PMID: 31203598 DOI: 10.23736/s0392-9590.19.04176-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultrasound investigation potentials in lymphedema are still to be fully used in everyday practice. Aim of the present study was to report the sonographic characterization of the dermo-epidermal complex (DEC) and of the subcutaneous (SUBC) tissue, assessing the feasibility of a related mapping, in upper limb secondary lymphedema. METHODS In this retrospective study 287 patients affected by monolateral upper limb post-mastectomy lymphedema (M5/F282; mean age 64±4.24) were enrolled and scanned by ultrasound, considering the healthy contralateral limb as control. In order to standardize the assessment, the limb was divided in sectors: 4 anterior, 4 posterior below the elbow, 4 anterior and 4 posterior above the elbow, plus the hand. DEC and SUBC regions B-mode appearance were reported, both in the healthy and in the pathological arms. DEC thickness was measured and compared among the same sectors of the healthy and pathological limbs. RESULTS DEC and SUBC sonographic appearance was differentiated in fluid and sclerotic. DEC included a third category characterized by differentiation loss. The different sectors showed significantly different lymphatic involvement in the affected limb. In the comparison with the contralateral unaffected segments a significantly thicker DEC was reported in the forearm affected by lymphedema (P<0.005), while no significant difference was reported at the arm level. CONCLUSIONS Traditional ultrasonography can provide a secondary upper limb lymphedema characterization with related mapping and useful data for a better lymphatic physiopathology understanding and for a properly addressed therapeutic protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mander
- Unit of Oncologic and Vascular Rehabilitation, Vaclav Vojta Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Venosi
- Unit of Vascular Surgery, Paride Stefanini Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Menegatti
- Unit of Translational Surgery, Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lee Byung-Boong
- George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Diana Neuhardt
- Comprehensive Interventional Care Center, Gilbert, AZ, USA
| | - Elisa Maietti
- Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Clinical Epidemiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sergio Gianesini
- Unit of Translational Surgery, Vascular Disease Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy - .,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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