Bioimpedance Spectroscopy for Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Assessment: Clinical Practice Guidelines |
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| Authors: | Chirag Shah MD Frank A. Vicini MD Douglas Arthur MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, Ohio;2. Michigan Healthcare Professionals, Farmington Hills, Michigan;3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia |
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| Abstract: | With improved breast cancer survivorship, lymphedema of the arm is a growing concern for many patients following treatment. Diagnosis and management of breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is often delayed due to low sensitivity diagnostic techniques and a failure to incorporate BCRL assessments into standard clinical practice. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is an increasingly utilized diagnostic technique that allows for the subclinical detection of BCRL, prior to clinically evident disease. We provide a summary of the data supporting the early detection and treatment of BCRL, a comparison of BCRL diagnostic modalities and data supporting the utilization of BIS. Finally, clinical practice guidelines will be provided to allow for the incorporation of BIS into the standard management of breast cancer patients prior to and following locoregional and systemic therapy. These clinical practice guidelines offer clinicians a method to introduce bioimpedance into routine breast cancer care. With increasing focus on BCRL, such protocols will allow for prospective evaluation of patients and early diagnosis and treatment. |
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| Keywords: | bioimpedance spectroscopy breast cancer clinical guidelines lymphedema |
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