title: Causes of shoulder pain in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To inform on shoulder pathology and to identify the disabilities and level of quality of life (QOL) associated with shoulder pain in patients with breast cancer- related lymphedema (BCRL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using patient history, physical examination, and ultrasound (US), we classified patients with BCRL into the following three groups: no pain with normal ultrasound (US), pain with normal US, and pain with abnormal US. We evaluated shoulder pathology using US, pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional disability using the Korean version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. For assessment of QOL, we used the Korean version of the brief form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL- BREF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  28.9% of patients had no pain and normal US, 31.6% had pain with normal US, and 39.5% had pain with abnormal US. The US findings for those with pain and abnormal US revealed the following: 53.3% had a supraspinatus tear, 13.3% had biceps tenosynovitis, 13.3% had acromioclavicular arthritis, 13.3% had subdeltoid bursitis, and 53.3% had adhesive capsulitis. Patients with shoulder pain and abnormal US findings had significantly higher mean DASH and pain scores. Pain scores were positively correlated with DASH scores and negatively correlated with QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that BCRL with shoulder pain and evidence of shoulder pathology on US was associated with reduced QOL and increased disability. Proper diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain are necessary to improve QOL and decrease disability in patients with BCRL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, 34 Amnam-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Ki Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ghi Chan
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography