Operational equivalence of bioimpedance indices and perometry for the assessment of unilateral arm lymphedema.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to assess the agreement between bioimpedance indices and inter-limb volume differences, as assessed by perometry, for assessment of unilateral arm lymphedema.


METHODS
Impedance was measured in the arms of 45 women with lymphedema and a separate control group without lymphedema (n = 21). Arm volume was measured at the same time by perometry. The impedance indices, (ratio of impedances between limbs and the L-dex scores) were compared to the inter-limb volume differences using concordance correlation analysis.


RESULTS
Impedance indices were highly correlated (r = 0.926) with the difference in arm volume measured by perometry.


CONCLUSIONS
Bioelectrical impedance analysis, although not providing a quantitative volume measurement of lymphedema, provides a measurement index that is highly correlated with quantitative measurements of the volume increase in limb size seen in lymphedema. The speed and ease of the impedance technique renders it a suitable alternative to perometry for the assessment of lymphedema.
Ward
Leigh C
LC
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia. l.ward@uq.edu.au
Czerniec
Sharon
S
Kilbreath
Sharon L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult