title: 3D stereophotogrammetry in upper-extremity lymphedema: An accurate diagnostic method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Upper-extremity lymphedema is a frequent complication in patients treated for breast cancer. Current diagnostic methods for the upper-extremity volume measurements are cumbersome or time consuming. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry for volume measurements in patients with upper-extremity lymphedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with unilateral upper-extremity lymphedema were included. The water displacement volume measurement of both arms was performed using a standardized method. In addition, 3D stereophotogrammetry volume measurements were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients (22 arms) were included. The mean volumes obtained by 3D stereophotogrammetry and water displacement show a high correlation, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.99 (p = 0.01). The variance calculated by 3D stereophotogrammetry measurements (205 mL) was statistically significant less than that obtained via water displacement measurements (1540 mL) (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D stereophotogrammetry is an accurate method for measuring upper-extremity volume in patients with lymphedema and gives a lower variance value compared to that of the water displacement measurements. We recommend the use of this method in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Marijn.Hameeteman@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Marijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hameeteman
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arico C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rinaldo D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vreeken
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas J J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Maal
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dietmar J O
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: 3D stereophotogrammetry; Diagnostic accuracy; Lymphedema; Three-dimensional imaging