BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic progressive disease that results from breast cancer treatment and nodal surgery. NCCN guidelines support baseline measurements with prospective assessment for early diagnosis and treatment. We sought to determine if baseline measurement with bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and serial postoperative evaluations provide early detection amenable to conservative interventions that reduce BCRL. METHODS: Breast cancer patients with unilateral disease high-risk for BCRL from a single institution were evaluated from November 2014 to December 2017. High risk was defined as axillary lymph node dissection with radiation and/or taxane chemotherapy. Patients received preoperative baseline BIS measurements followed by postoperative measurements with at least two follow-ups. Patients with BIS results that were 2 standard deviations above baseline (10 + points) started home conservative interventions for 4-6 weeks. Postintervention measurements were taken to assess improvement. RESULT: A total of 146 patients high-risk for BCRL were included. Forty-nine patients (34%) developed early BCRL and started self-directed treatment. Forty patients (82%) had elevated BIS measurements return to normal baseline range. Nine (6%) patients had persistent BCRL requiring referral for advanced therapy. Patients with persistent BCRL had significant nodal burden on surgical pathology; eight (89%) had N2/N3 disease. Six (76%) with BCRL refractory to conservative measures died of their breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that early conservative intervention for breast cancer patients high risk for BCRL who were prospectively monitored by utilizing BIS significantly lowers rates of BCRL. These findings support early prospective screening and intervention for BCRL. Early detection with patient-directed interventions improves patient outcomes and decreases the risk of persistent BCRL.
BACKGROUND:Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic progressive disease that results from breast cancer treatment and nodal surgery. NCCN guidelines support baseline measurements with prospective assessment for early diagnosis and treatment. We sought to determine if baseline measurement with bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and serial postoperative evaluations provide early detection amenable to conservative interventions that reduce BCRL. METHODS:Breast cancerpatients with unilateral disease high-risk for BCRL from a single institution were evaluated from November 2014 to December 2017. High risk was defined as axillary lymph node dissection with radiation and/or taxane chemotherapy. Patients received preoperative baseline BIS measurements followed by postoperative measurements with at least two follow-ups. Patients with BIS results that were 2 standard deviations above baseline (10 + points) started home conservative interventions for 4-6 weeks. Postintervention measurements were taken to assess improvement. RESULT: A total of 146 patients high-risk for BCRL were included. Forty-nine patients (34%) developed early BCRL and started self-directed treatment. Forty patients (82%) had elevated BIS measurements return to normal baseline range. Nine (6%) patients had persistent BCRL requiring referral for advanced therapy. Patients with persistent BCRL had significant nodal burden on surgical pathology; eight (89%) had N2/N3 disease. Six (76%) with BCRL refractory to conservative measures died of their breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that early conservative intervention for breast cancerpatients high risk for BCRL who were prospectively monitored by utilizing BIS significantly lowers rates of BCRL. These findings support early prospective screening and intervention for BCRL. Early detection with patient-directed interventions improves patient outcomes and decreases the risk of persistent BCRL.
Authors: Loryn K Bucci; Cheryl L Brunelle; Madison C Bernstein; Amy M Shui; Tessa C Gillespie; Sacha A Roberts; George E Naoum; Alphonse G Taghian Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2021-06-11 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Nicole L Stout; Justin C Brown; Anna L Schwartz; Timothy F Marshall; Anna M Campbell; Larissa Nekhlyudov; David S Zucker; Karen M Basen-Engquist; Grace Campbell; Jeffrey Meyerhardt; Andrea L Cheville; Kelley R Covington; Jennifer A Ligibel; Jonas M Sokolof; Kathryn H Schmitz; Catherine M Alfano Journal: Cancer Date: 2020-03-25 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Paula M C Donahue; Rachelle Crescenzi; Chelsea Lee; Maria Garza; Niral J Patel; Kalen J Petersen; Manus J Donahue Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2020-06-29 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Louise A Koelmeyer; Robert J Borotkanics; Jessica Alcorso; Philip Prah; Caleb J Winch; Kristine Nakhel; Catherine M Dean; John Boyages Journal: Cancer Date: 2018-12-06 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Louise A Koelmeyer; Emma Moloney; John Boyages; Kerry A Sherman; Catherine M Dean Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Chirag Shah; April Zambelli-Weiner; Nicole Delgado; Ashley Sier; Robert Bauserman; Jerrod Nelms Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2020-11-27 Impact factor: 4.872