title: Determining the precision of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and bioelectric impedance spectroscopy in the assessment of breast cancer-related lymphedema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The composition of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) has been shown to evolve from the initial accumulation of fluid to the development of fibrotic lesions and abnormal fat deposition. Therefore, precise and reliable assessments of BCRL are required to develop accurate staging and management. Although dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS) have been used to assess BCRL, no study has evaluated the precision of these two modalities in the same cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We determined the precision of DXA and BIS in lymphedematous (LE) and nonaffected (NA) arms of 24 women with Stage II unilateral BCRL. Precision was calculated from the results of paired bilateral arm measurements obtained from DXA scans measuring fat, lean, and bone mineral masses, BIS measuring extracellular fluid (ECF) and total fluid volume, and circumferential tape measurements (CM) of the arms to calculate the anatomic volume. Precision error was expressed as the root mean square (RMS) of the coefficients of variation (%CV) and standard deviations (SD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The precisions of DXA and BIS varied from 1.16% (DXA measurements of LE arm total volume) to 1.86% (BIS LE arm total fluid volume) and from 0.95% (DXA lean mass of NA arm) to 1.72% (DXA BMC of NA arm). Precision of CM measures of arm volume were 1.71% CV for LE arm and 2.51% CV for NA arm. The fat and lean masses of the LE arm exceeded the NA arm by about 15% (p<0.0001). ECF and total fluid volume of LE arm was 22.6% and 19% greater than the NA arm (p<0.0001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For BCRL, these findings suggest that DXA and BIS are two measurement instruments that provide acceptable levels of precision for the measurement of arm lean mass, fat mass and ECF volume, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. annewman514@gmail.com
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenthall
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Shay
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tidhar
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vigano
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kilgour
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results