Characterizing forearm skeletal muscle composition and function in breast cancer-related lymphedema using B-mode ultrasonography

IF 1.3 4区医学 Q4 PHYSIOLOGY

Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging Pub Date : 2026-02-12 DOI:10.1111/cpf.70051

Jesse Whyte, Anna Towers, Mathieu Boily, Leonard Rosenthall, Hassan Rivaz, Robert D. Kilgour

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Abstract

Background

Skeletal muscle thickness, echo intensity, and quality are important morphological properties; however, little is known how these variables compare between the affected and unaffected forearms in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods

Using B-mode ultrasound, we recorded the raw radiofrequency data of the affected and unaffected forearms of women (n = 20) with Stage 2 BCRL, and in a control group of 20 women with no lymphedema. The data were converted into images and measurements of skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscle thickness were obtained. Within a designated region of interest, muscle echo intensity was assessed using computer graded grey scale and muscle thickness was measured using ImageJ2. Handgrip strength was measured using standard dynamometry.

Results

We found no differences in muscle thickness among affected, unaffected, and control forearms. The affected arm had significantly lower (p ≤ 0.025) muscle quality than controls but similar to values found in the unaffected arms. The affected arm had higher muscle echo intensity than the unaffected (p ≤ 0.013) and control (p ≤ 0.001) arms. Muscle echo intensity was related to subcutaneous fat thickness (r = 0.45; p ≤ 0.05) and arm circumference (r = 0.47; p = 0.04) in the affected arm in women with lymphedema.

Conclusions

Lymphedema does not negatively affect forearm muscle thickness. The elevated levels of muscle echo intensity of the affected arm does not influence muscle quality in BCRL. The functional relevance of an elevated muscle echo intensity in the affected arm and its relationship with arm circumference and subcutaneous fat thickness needs to be further explored.

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用b超描述乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿患者前臂骨骼肌的组成和功能。

背景：骨骼肌的厚度、回声强度和质量是重要的形态学特征；然而，在乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿（BCRL）中，这些变量如何在受影响和未受影响的前臂之间进行比较，我们知之甚少。方法：采用b超记录2期BCRL女性（n = 20）和对照组（20例无淋巴水肿女性）患病和未患病前臂的原始射频数据。将数据转换为图像，并获得皮肤、皮下脂肪和肌肉厚度的测量值。在指定的感兴趣区域内，使用计算机灰度分级评估肌肉回声强度，使用ImageJ2测量肌肉厚度。用标准测力法测定握力。结果：我们发现受影响、未受影响和对照组前臂的肌肉厚度没有差异。受影响的手臂肌肉质量显著低于对照组（p≤0.025），但与未受影响的手臂相似。患肢肌肉回声强度高于未患肢（p≤0.013）和对照组（p≤0.001）。淋巴水肿女性患臂肌肉回声强度与皮下脂肪厚度（r = 0.45, p≤0.05）和臂围（r = 0.47, p = 0.04）相关。结论：淋巴水肿对前臂肌肉厚度无负面影响。患臂肌肉回声强度升高并不影响BCRL患者的肌肉质量。患臂肌肉回声强度升高的功能相关性及其与臂围和皮下脂肪厚度的关系有待进一步探讨。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 医学-生理学

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

5.60%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging publishes reports on clinical and experimental research pertinent to human physiology in health and disease. The scope of the Journal is very broad, covering all aspects of the regulatory system in the cardiovascular, renal and pulmonary systems with special emphasis on methodological aspects. The focus for the journal is, however, work that has potential clinical relevance. The Journal also features review articles on recent front-line research within these fields of interest. Covered by the major abstracting services including Current Contents and Science Citation Index, Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging plays an important role in providing effective and productive communication among clinical physiologists world-wide.