The upper-limb volumetric changes in breast cancer survivors with axillary web syndrome.
Whether upper-limb swelling is associated with axillary web syndrome (AWS) is unknown. We recruited unilateral breast cancer (BC) patients who were scheduled for surgical intervention and lymph node dissection. The pre-operative assessment and post-operative assessment 3-4 weeks after surgery evaluated the upper-limb circumferential measurements, segmental limb volume, pain scores, grasp, shoulder range of motion (ROM), shoulder muscle power and quality-of-life scores. In the control group, the peri-elbow volume and upper-arm volume were significantly higher post-operatively than pre-operatively. In the AWS group, no significant difference was found. In comparison with the control group, the AWS group had significantly more pain, less active ROM in shoulder abduction and a lower upper-limb volume at 0-10 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle. The incidence of lymphedema was 9.9% and was not associated with AWS. AWS is a common morbidity of lymph node dissection and causes significant pain and restricted shoulder abduction in the affected limb in BC survivors. This study is the first to investigate post-operative upper-limb volumetric changes in BC survivors with and without AWS. Our findings are of great value for the clinical effect of AWS in BC survivors, for patient education, and for developing diagnostic tools for detecting AWS.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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HC
Huang
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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HH
Liu
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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LY
Yin
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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CH
Yeh
Department of General Surgery, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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CW
Tu
Department of Sports, Health, and Leisure, Tatung Institute of Technology, Chiayi City, Taiwan.|Department of Plastic Surgery, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.
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CS
Yang
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D010146:Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
arm volume; axillary web syndrome; breast cancer rehabilitation; lymphedema