title: Comparing bioelectrical impedance values in assessing early upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate resistance (R) and phase angle (Pa) determined by single-frequency whole-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), as predictors for the early onset of edema of the upper limb in patients undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole-body BIA was performed before surgery, as well as at two days, at one and three months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 women undergoing breast cancer surgery were examined. Four patients developed an edema of the upper limb within the first three months after surgery. Both analyzed parameters showed a fairly good performance in terms of sensitivity (R=75%, Pa=75%) and specificity (R=86%, Pa=83%). The positive predictive values of 43% (R) and 38% (Pa) were unsatisfactory, whereas the negative predictive values were 96% for both parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pa, as well as R, in whole-body BIA can be used to rule out a developing edema of the upper limb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. sebastian.berlit@umm.de
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berlit
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brade
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuschy
authors.forename: Amadeus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hornemann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leweling
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eghardt
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sütterlin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology; D001823:Body Composition; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve