title: Measuring head and neck lymphedema: The "ALOHA" trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no clinical assessment available to measure head and neck lymphedema. This study proposes the use of a tape measurement system and the MoistureMeterD (MMD) to evaluate head and neck lymphedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reliability and validity of these assessments was examined in 20 patients with head and neck lymphedema and 20 matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interrater reliability for the MMD and 3 of the 4 tape measurements was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] >0.90). Intrarater reliability of the MMD was 0.97. The MMD discriminated between patients with head and neck lymphedema and healthy controls, t(19) = 8.97, p < .001, whereas the tape measurements did not. Correlation between MMD score and head and neck lymphedema level ratings was significant (rho = 0.59) indicating convergent validity. Three of the tape measurements were significantly correlated with MMD scores (rho = 0.37-0.38) but not with ratings of head and neck lymphedema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tape measurement system and MMD show potential as objective measurements of head and neck lymphedema with the exception of 1 tape measurement point.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science and Occupational Therapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porceddu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: assessment; head; lymphedema; neck; therapy