Bioimpedance spectroscopy for lymphedema assessment: Clinical practice guidelines.

Abstract

146 Background: Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is an increasingly diagnosed complication of breast cancer treatment with incidence rates of 5% with lumpectomy alone to more than 40% with mastectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy. Increasing data supports the role of early detection and treatment with one diagnostic modality being bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) with L-Dex measurements. Methods: A systematic review of the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed search was performed for articles applicable to BIS and BCRL. Clinical guidelines were created by the authors based on published data and consensus agreement. Results: At this time, multiple randomized and prospective trials have been performed evaluating early detection for BCRL and have demonstrated reduced rates of BCRL with such an approach. BIS with L-Dex represents a technique with published literature supporting increased sensitivity, ability to detect subclinical BCRL and standardized clinical decision points, an improvement from traditional BCRL diagnostics. BCRL surveillance programs should focus on high-risk patients including those undergoing mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, sentinel node biopsy with greater than 6 nodes sampled, regional nodal irradiation, and those requiring taxane based chemotherapy. Patients should undergo assessment prior to locoregional therapy and then every 3 months for the first 3 years with additional measurements made based on clinical assessment. A change in L-Dex of 10 has been utilized has a consistent trigger to initiate BCRL treatment. Conclusions: With increasing data supporting early diagnosis and treatment of BCRL, these guidelines offer clinicians a tool to help develop BCRL surveillance programs as part of routine breast cancer care.