MEASUREMENT OF SOFT TISSUE COMPLIANCE WITH PRESSURE USING ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Abstract

Lymphedema is swelling, particularly inthe subcutaneous tissues, due to accumulationof lymph. Previous imaging techniques havedemonstrated associated structural changesand have been used for evaluating the statusof soft tissues. However, the reliability ofmeasurements using ultrasonography has notbeen evaluated and the ultrasonographicmethod has been unable to show changes intissue softness. There is a need to determineif ultrasonography is a reliable technique toassess skin and subcutaneous thickness in theupper extremities with or without pressureand if the measure of compliance in soft tissuethickness is also reliable. Two examinersmeasured tissue thicknesses using ultrasonographyand calculated the compliance with andwithout pressure on the forearm and upperarm, independently. The intra- and inter-ratercross-correlation coefficients of measuringsoft tissue thickness were excellent (>0.75) inthe forearm (p<0.05). In the upper arm, thereliabilities were fair-to-good. The intraclasscorrelation coefficients of pressure compliancein the forearm and upper arm were excellentand fair-to-good, respectively (p<0.05). Thisstudy suggests that measurement of thicknessof soft tissues using ultrasonography may bereliable and pressure compliance may reflecttissue softness in the upper extremity.