CORRELATION BETWEEN BIOELECTRICAL SPECTROSCOPY AND PEROMETRY IN ASSESSMENT OF UPPER EXTREMITY SWELLING

Abstract

Lymphedema is a common side effect ofbreast cancer treatment and is associated withincreased upper extremity volume, functionalimpairment, and pain. While there is no curefor lymphedema, physical therapy treatmentcan often alleviate symptoms. To measure theefficacy of treatment, accurate assessment ofthe limbs is important. Current methods ofassessment are complex (water displacement),marginally accurate (circumferential measurements),or expensive (opto-electrical systems).A new method for estimating tissue fluid isbioelectrical spectroscopy (BIS). This methodmeasures impedance to small currents appliedto the body and is easily performed. Acceptanceof BIS devices for assessment of limbfluid will be dependent on the establishmentof sufficient reliability and validity, and theobjective of this study was to evaluate reliabilityand validity of this device compared toperometry. Both upper limbs of ten subjectspreviously treated for breast cancer weremeasured using BIS and perometry. We foundthat inter-rater reliability (r=0.987) and intraraterreliability (r=0.993) were acceptably highfor the BIS unit and concurrent validity wasr=-0.904, when compared to perometry. Theseresults confirm that BIS can produce validand reliable data related to the assessment ofupper limbs affected by lymphedema.