The Breast Edema Enigma: Features, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recommendations

Abstract

Breast edema most commonly occurs after breast cancer treatment involving breast-conserving therapy, although it may have a variety of other causes. As compared to research on breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema, breast edema and its objective measurement and diagnosis is far behind. Consequences of this disparity contribute to uncertainty and variability in its diagnosis, its treatment, and even the characterization of its incidence and morbidity. Moreover, consensus on a standardized definition, objective diagnostic method, and treatment techniques for breast edema has not yet been reached, making it difficult to provide appropriate guidelines with respect to its management. Given the recent rise in breast edema incidence as an outcome of the increasing use of breast-conserving therapy, this timely review examines the current state of breast edema assessment and makes a case for standardization in part via quantitative methods to diagnose and track breast edema.

Keywords: breast cancer; breast edema; breast lymphedema; breast-conserving therapy; diagnostic recommendations; guidelines; tissue dielectric constant.

Figure 1. Search strategy and outcomes

The inclusion criteria (*) was that the article must be peer-reviewed and must explicitly state and discuss at least one of the following: breast edema (of any etiology), tissue dielectric constant, MR mammography, or breast cancer. MR, magnetic resonance