title: Carpal tunnel syndrome in breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphedema has long been considered a risk factor for median nerve compression at the wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This association is based on limited and poor quality data. We analyzed the association between lymphedema and CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS were assessed retrospectively. The severity of lymphedema was graded using the National Institutes of Health Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03. The severity of CTS was graded in accordance with accepted criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients (38 sides) met the criteria for analysis. There was no association between presence of lymphedema and CTS (P = 0.66) or between lymphedema severity and CTS severity (P = 0.79). There were no cases of infection or worsening lymphedema as a result of needle EMG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings do not support lymphedema as an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Sillerman Center for Rehabilitation, 515 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, New York, 10022, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Arum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Elyn R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Sillerman Center for Rehabilitation, 515 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, New York, 10022, USA.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ibanez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017741:Survivors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: breast cancer; carpal tunnel syndrome; electromyography; electrophysiological testing; lymphedema; rehabilitation