Assessment of Segmental Arm Soft Tissue Composition in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study Using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and Bioimpedance Spectroscopy

摘要

Background: Changes in arm soft tissue composition, especially increased adipose tissue, has been found in advanced, non-pitting breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). The aim of this study was to examine whether these changes were localized to any particular region of the arm and whether they occurred in lymphedema which still pitted to pressure. Secondary aims were to explore relationships between arm segment volumes, bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) measurements of extracellular fluid (ECF), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of tissue composition.