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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Minimally Invasive Isolated Limb Perfusion (MI-ILP) for Locally Advanced Melanomas and Sarcomas of the Extremity
Published on: January 31, 2025
Drug dosage in isolated limb perfusion: evaluation of a limb volume model for extremity volume calculation
Lars Erik Podleska1, Thorsten Poeppel, Michael Herbrik
1Department of Trauma Surgery and Musculoskeletal Surgical Oncology, University Hospital of Essen and Sarcoma Center at the West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr, 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany. lars.podleska@uk-essen.de.
Background:
Exact drug dosing in isolated limb perfusion (ILP) and infusion (ILI) is essential. We developed and evaluated a model for calculating the volume of extremities and compared this model with body weight- and height-dependent parameters.
Methods:
The extremity was modeled by a row of coupled truncated cones. The sizes of the truncated cone bases were derived from the circumference measurements of the extremity at predefined levels (5 cm). The resulting volumes were added. This extremity volume model was correlated to the computed tomography (CT) volume data of the extremity (total limb volume). The extremity volume was also correlated with the patient's body weight, body mass index (BMI) and ideal body weight (IBW). The no-fat CT limb volume was correlated with the circumference-measured limb volume corrected by the ideal-body-weight to actual-body-weight ratio (IBW corrected-limb-volume).
Results:
The correlation between the CT volume and the volume measured by the circumference was high and significant. There was no correlation between the limb volume and the bare body weight, BMI or IBW. The correlation between the no-fat CT volume and IBW-corrected limb volume was high and significant.
Conclusions:
An appropriate drug dosing in ILP can be achieved by combining the limb volume with the simple circumference measurements and the IBW to body-weight ratio.
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