title: Lower extremity lymphedema index: a simple method for severity evaluation of lower extremity lymphedema.
abstract: Measurement of the circumference is the most commonly used method for evaluating extremity lymphedema. However, comparison between different patients is difficult with this measurement. To resolve this problem, we have formulated a new index, lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) index, which can be easily obtained from measurements of the body. We evaluated correlation between lower LEL index and clinical stage in patients with LEL. The LEL indices were significantly correlated with clinical stages and could be used as a severity scale. The LEL index makes objective assessment of the severity of lymphedema through a numerical rating, regardless of the body type. This numerical rating makes the index useful for evaluation of lymphedema severities between different cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. tyamamoto-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Todokoro
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.forename: Mitsunaga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Gentaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index