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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 10/2019

Open Access 01-10-2019 | Breast Cancer | Breast Oncology

A Randomized Trial Evaluating Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Versus Tape Measurement for the Prevention of Lymphedema Following Treatment for Breast Cancer: Interim Analysis

Authors: Sheila H. Ridner, PhD, RN, Mary S. Dietrich, PhD, Michael S. Cowher, MD, Bret Taback, MD, Sarah McLaughlin, MD, Nicolas Ajkay, MD, John Boyages, MD, PhD, Louise Koelmeyer, BAppSc(OT), Sarah M. DeSnyder, MD, Jamie Wagner, DO, Vandana Abramson, MD, Andrew Moore, MD, Chirag Shah, MD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 10/2019

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Abstract

Background

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a major source of morbidity among breast cancer survivors. Increasing data support early detection of subclinical BCRL followed by early intervention. A randomized controlled trial is being conducted comparing lymphedema progression rates using volume measurements calculated from the circumference using a tape measure (TM) or bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS).

Methods

Patients were enrolled and randomized to either TM or BIS surveillance. Patients requiring early intervention were prescribed a compression sleeve and gauntlet for 4 weeks and then re-evaluated. The primary endpoint of the trial was the rate of progression to clinical lymphedema requiring complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP), with progression defined as a TM volume change in the at-risk arm ≥ 10% above the presurgical baseline. This prespecified interim analysis was performed when at least 500 trial participants had ≥ 12 months of follow-up.

Results

A total of 508 patients were included in this analysis, with 109 (21.9%) patients triggering prethreshold interventions. Compared with TM, BIS had a lower rate of trigger (15.8% vs. 28.5%, p < 0.001) and longer times to trigger (9.5 vs. 2.8 months, p = 0.002). Twelve triggering patients progressed to CDP (10 in the TM group [14.7%] and 2 in the BIS group [4.9%]), representing a 67% relative reduction and a 9.8% absolute reduction (p = 0.130).

Conclusions

Interim results demonstrated that post-treatment surveillance with BIS reduced the absolute rates of progression of BCRL requiring CDP by approximately 10%, a clinically meaningful improvement. These results support the concept of post-treatment surveillance with BIS to detect subclinical BCRL and initiate early intervention.
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Metadata
Title
A Randomized Trial Evaluating Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Versus Tape Measurement for the Prevention of Lymphedema Following Treatment for Breast Cancer: Interim Analysis
Authors
Sheila H. Ridner, PhD, RN
Mary S. Dietrich, PhD
Michael S. Cowher, MD
Bret Taback, MD
Sarah McLaughlin, MD
Nicolas Ajkay, MD
John Boyages, MD, PhD
Louise Koelmeyer, BAppSc(OT)
Sarah M. DeSnyder, MD
Jamie Wagner, DO
Vandana Abramson, MD
Andrew Moore, MD
Chirag Shah, MD
Publication date
01-10-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 10/2019
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07344-5

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