A comprehensive review of bioimpedance spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for the detection and measurement of breast cancer-related lymphedema

Abstract

As treatment for breast cancer improves and the threat of life-long chronic lymphedema becomes more prevalent, the need for effective screening tools emerges as crucial. This review was conducted using literature beginning in 1992 to analyze primary research testing the accuracy of bioimpedance spectroscopy as a diagnostic and early detection tool for breast cancer-related lymphedema. We concluded bioimpedance is an accurate diagnostic tool for pre-existent lymphedema, however, it has not been validated for early detection. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:537-542. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: L-Dex; bioimpedance spectroscopy; breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL); early detection; multiple frequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA); perometry.