[Detection of postoperative lymphoedema in patients with breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Lymphoedema is a severe postoperative complication after treatment of many malignancies. It is a pathological accumulation of extracellular water (ECW). Early diagnostic tool is needed. Multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA) is a method for detection of changes in ECW.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague.


METHODS
We measured a control group of 72 women and a group of 74 patients undergoing a breast cancer surgery during 18 month after the surgery by MFBIA and circumferency. Characteristics of the patients were recorded. The detection of lymphoedema was done using MFBIA, circumferency measurement and upon the symptoms of the patients.


RESULTS
The average age in the controll and tested group was 40,1 and 58,9 years. The average size of the tumour, grade and positivity if oestrogen receptors was 15,1 mm, 2,04 and 43%. In 23 patients (21%) complete lymphadenectomy was performed, in 51 patients (79%) a detection of sentinel lymph node was performed. Lymphoedema was detected in 8 women (11%). In these patients MFBIA detected lymphoedema 9 month earlier in total than other methods.


CONCLUSIONS
MFBIA is a low-cost and precise method for the detection od early stage postoperative lymphoedema. We recommend to incorporate MFBIA into standard dispensatory plan of every patient combined with circumferency measurement.
Halaska
M
M
Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha. mhalaska@centrum.cz
Strnad
P
P
Chod
J
J
Malá
I
I
Nováková
M
M
Stankusová
H
H
Kolarík
D
D
Feldmár
P
P
Rob
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm; D001823:Body Composition; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged