Reference Values for Assessing Localized Hand Lymphedema Using Interhand Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios

Early detection and tracking of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema have been helped by quantitative assessment methods and parameters, including bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and tissue dielectric constant (TDC). Such measurements are evaluated with respect to interarm differences or ratios that (when exceeding specified thresholds) are suggestive of lymphedema. Specific threshold ratios depend on the assessment method and have been reported for arms. However, there is far less information available on thresholds to assess lymphedema that manifests in at-risk hands and essentially nothing known about TDC ratios in healthy hands. Such information is essential to establish reference values from which lymphedema threshold TDC values may be estimated. The specific aim of this research was to determine such interhand TDC ratios applicable to both young and mature women.

A total of 70 women (35 under 30 years of age, YOUNG, and 35 over 50 years of age, MATURE) participated after signing an approved institutional review board informed consent. TDC values of the hand dorsum web were measured bilaterally in triplicate with participants in a supine resting position. Results showed MATURE TDC values to be about 15% less than YOUNG (p < 0.01) on dominant and nondominant hands, but no statistical difference in dominant/nondominant interarm ratios (1.026 ± 0.100).

Based on this data set's overall mean and two standard deviation value, an age-independent interhand TDC threshold ratio of 1.23 emerges as potentially useful for lymphedema detection. This is a good initial start threshold that is usable in future clinical and research assessments.