The Use of Ultrasound Imaging for Upper Extremity Lymphedema after Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Elena Canales-Lachén; Ángel Asunsolo; Oscar J. Manrique; Javier Blázquez; Purificación Holguín; Andrés A. Maldonado

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1750824

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Inhaltsverzeichnis

J Reconstr Microsurg 2023; 39(02): 102-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750824

Original Article

The Use of Ultrasound Imaging for Upper Extremity Lymphedema after Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Autor*innen

Elena Canales-Lachén

¹Department of Radiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
Ángel Asunsolo

²Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

³Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
Oscar J. Manrique

⁴Deparment of Plastic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
Javier Blázquez

¹Department of Radiology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain

³Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
Purificación Holguín

⁵Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Andrés A. Maldonado

²Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

³Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain

⁵Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Getafe, Madrid, Spain

⁶Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, BG Trauma Center Frankfurt am Main, Academic Hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to analyze the different applications of ultrasound (US) in upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) after breast cancer.

Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed in line with the PRISMA statement using MEDLINE/PubMed databases from January 1970 to December 2021. Articles describing the application of US in patients with UEL after breast cancer were included. The quality of the study, the level of reproducibility, and the different applications and type of US technique were analyzed.

Results In total, 30 articles with 1,193 patients were included in the final review. Five different applications were found: (1) diagnosis of UEL (14 studies found a direct correlation between lymphedema and morphological and/or functional parameters); (2) staging/severity of UEL (9 studies found a direct correlation between the clinical stage and the soft-tissue stiffness/texture/thickness); (3) therapeutic assessment (3 studies found an improvement in the circulatory status or in the muscle/subcutaneous thickness after conservative treatments); (4) prognosis assessment of UEL (1 study found a correlation between the venous flow and the risk of UEL); and (5) surgical planning (3 studies determined the location of the lymphatic vessel for lymphovenous anastomosis [LVA] surgery).

Conclusion Morphological and functional parameters have been correlated with the diagnosis, stage, therapeutic effect, prognosis of UEL, and surgical planning of LVA.

Keywords

doppler ultrasound - lymphedema - breast cancer - upper extremity

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Referenzen

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