Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema
Published on: January 12, 2017
Can a practicing surgeon detect early lymphedema reliably?
Keiva L Bland1, Rebecca Perczyk, Wei Du
1Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Background:
Lymphedema may be identified by simpler circumference changes as compared with changes in limb volume.
Methods:
Ninety breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled in an academic trial, and seven upper extremity circumferences were measured quarterly for 3 years. A 10% volume increase or greater than 1 cm increase in arm circumference identified lymphedema with verification by a lymphedema specialist. Sensitivity and specificity of several different criteria for detecting lymphedema were compared using the academic trial as the standard.
Results:
Thirty-nine cases of lymphedema were identified by the academic trial. Using a 10% increase in circumference at two sites as the criterion, half the lymphedema cases were detected (sensitivity 37%). When using a 10% increase in circumference at any site, 74.4% of cases were detected (sensitivity 49%). Detection by a 5% increase in circumference at any site was 91% sensitive.
Conclusions:
An increase of 5% in circumference measurements identified the most potential lymphedema cases compared with an academic trial.
