Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

S C Gultekin, A B Cakir, Z G Guc, F R Ozalp, M Keskinkilic, T Yavuzsen, D Karadibak

{"title":"The Burden of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema on Upper Extremity Functionality: A Comparative Analysis with Healthy Controls and Across Disease Stages.","authors":"S C Gultekin, A B Cakir, Z G Guc, F R Ozalp, M Keskinkilic, T Yavuzsen, D Karadibak","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"The primary study aim compared upper extremity (UE) functionality between breast cancer- related lymphedema (BCRL) patients and healthy controls. A secondary aim compared UE functionality based on lymphedema stage. The study included 50 women with unilateral BCRL and 50 healthy controls. UE functionality was assessed using the following measurement tools: the universal goniometer for range of motion (ROMs), digital inclinometer for proprioception, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test for light touch sensation, Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) score for functionality and mobility, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) for UE disability level, hand grip strength for peripheral muscle strength, and Upper Extremity Lymphedema Quality of Life questionnaire 27 (ULL-27) and Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) for quality of life (QoL). BCRL patients had reduced UE ROMs, UE functionality and mobility, hand grip strength, worse DASH score, impaired proprioception, light touch sensation and poorer quality of life compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Significant between-group differences were detected in UE ROMs, ULIFT, DASH outcomes, proprioception, light touch sensation and physical and mental sub-scores of QoL assessments (p<0.05), while no significant differences were detected for hand grip strength, ULL-27 global score (p>0.05) according to lymphedema stage. Findings exhibited that patients with BCRL present with worse UE mobility, increased disability, loss of proprioception, impaired light touch sensation, and lower QoL compared to their healthy controls. UE functions and QoL may also vary between patients according to lymphedema severity.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 2","pages":"81-97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148341780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Lymphspiration: Contractility of Thoracic Duct - What Do We Know and What is Still to Be Discovered? 淋巴：胸导管的收缩性——我们知道什么，还有什么有待发现？

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

A Kowalczyk

引用次数: 0

Can Knowledge and Motivation for Lymphedema Self-Management Be Improved with the Use of ICG Lymphography? A Prospective Observational Repeated Measures Study. ICG淋巴造影能提高对淋巴水肿自我管理的认识和动机吗？一项前瞻性观察性重复测量研究。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

M Trevethan, E Doig, F Patterson, A Pigott

{"title":"Can Knowledge and Motivation for Lymphedema Self-Management Be Improved with the Use of ICG Lymphography? A Prospective Observational Repeated Measures Study.","authors":"M Trevethan, E Doig, F Patterson, A Pigott","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"ICG lymphography is a lymphatic imaging tool that can inform lymphedema treatment, including self-management. Self-management requires patient engagement in a multimodal treatment program. However, lack of knowledge about lymphedema, challenges maintaining motivation, and lack of confidence in ability to perform self-management are barriers to engagement. This study aimed to determine if there was any change (immediate and/or delayed) to patient knowledge, motivation, confidence in lymphedema self-management, or lymphedema distress after undergoing ICG lymphography. A secondary aim was to observe health-related quality of life. A prospective observational repeated measures study followed 25 consecutive participants with limb lymphedema at three timepoints: pre; directly post; and, 12-months post ICG lymphography. A questionnaire exploring knowledge, motivation and confidence in self-management, along with lymphedema distress and a health-related quality of life tool were completed at each timepoint. Patients' knowledge about lymph-edema improved over all timepoints (p<0.001). Motivation for lymphedema self-management improvements trended toward significance directly post ICG lymphography (p=0.053), but was not maintained at 12-months. No other variables demonstrated significant change. Patients described the experience of undergoing ICG lymphography as positive and reported key learnings and changes to their self-management. ICG lymphography could be a useful tool to improve a person's knowledge of their lymphedema and may positively influence motivation to engage in self-management. Further exploration to sustaining motivation over time and potential im-pacts to lymphedema outcomes is necessary.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 2","pages":"98-112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148341676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Investigation of Bioimpedance Capacitance in Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema on the Basis of Weibull Analysis. 基于威布尔分析的乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿患者生物阻抗电容的研究。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

S Niwa, K Imai, A Mawaki, K Nakanishi, F Hisano, K Tsukioka, T Kikumori, E Fujimoto, C Oshima

{"title":"Investigation of Bioimpedance Capacitance in Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema on the Basis of Weibull Analysis.","authors":"S Niwa, K Imai, A Mawaki, K Nakanishi, F Hisano, K Tsukioka, T Kikumori, E Fujimoto, C Oshima","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"Bioimpedance analysis constitutes noninvasive, low-cost intervention for early diagnosis and evaluation of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). In this study, we investigated the frequency dependence of capacitance, a marker of disease progression, in patients with BRCL. Pseudo membrane capacitance of the affected and unaffected sides of upper limbs was calculated from reactance values obtained at 5, 50, and 250 kHz. At all frequencies, pseudo membrane capacitance differed significantly between affected and unaffected limbs, with the most pronounced difference observed at 5 kHz. The Weibull analysis of the 5 kHz data demonstrated linear distributions for both limbs, with high correlation coefficients (affected: r = 0.97; unaffected: r = 0.98). The shape parameter derived from the Weibull plot indicated that pseudo membrane capacitance on the unaffected side followed a Gaussian-like distribution (α = 3.90), whereas that on the affected side was characterized by a Rayleigh distribution (α = 2.04). These distributional differences suggest distinct underlying tissue characteristics between affected and unaffected limbs. These findings indicate that capacitance measured using commonly available bioimpedance devices can differentiate affected from unaffected limbs and may provide clinically relevant information for identifying early or subclinical lymphedema prior to the development of overt clinical edema.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 1","pages":"35-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Novel Characterization of Prox-1 Expression on Optic Nerve Astrocytes. 视神经星形胶质细胞中Prox-1表达的新特征

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

Y Yang, L W Zhang, L L Zhang, G Li, L Chen

引用次数: 0

Digital Experts in Lymphedema: Assessing the Quality and Readability of Responses from ChatGPT and Gemini. 淋巴水肿的数字专家：评估ChatGPT和Gemini回复的质量和可读性。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

C S Pirincci, E Cihan, E Uzelpasaci, A B Pacaci

{"title":"Digital Experts in Lymphedema: Assessing the Quality and Readability of Responses from ChatGPT and Gemini.","authors":"C S Pirincci, E Cihan, E Uzelpasaci, A B Pacaci","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluated the quality and readability of responses provided by ChatGPT and Gemini to frequently asked questions related to lymphedema. Ten frequently asked questions about lymphedema were selected by expert therapists for submission to ChatGPT and Gemini. The initial responses from ChatGPT and Gemini were recorded without follow-up queries. Five independent experts (therapists) specialized in this field evaluated responses from ChatGPT and Gemini using a four-point rating scale. Readability levels were analyzed using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level through WordCalc software. Results indicated that except for questions 3 and 6, ChatGPT and Gemini provided similar responses, with significant differences observed in those two questions (p = 0.014). ChatGPT's answers to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 were found to be more readable than Gemini's, while Gemini's answers to questions 5, 6, and 7 were more readable. Overall, approximately 70% of ChatGPT's responses were found to be easier to read compared to Gemini. The results of this study indicate that both AI search engines offer comparable responses to research questions. However, when evaluating clarity and accessibility of the answers, ChatGPT was found to be more understandable and user-friendly than Gemini.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 1","pages":"27-34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Patients Undergoing Lymphovenous Anastomosis: A Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Pilot Study. 超声引导星状神经节阻滞治疗行淋巴静脉吻合的乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿患者的有效性：一项前瞻性、随机、对照的先导研究。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

B K Kang, Y Y Lee, M H Beak, S Lee, K-J Woo, W-J Kim

{"title":"Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Patients Undergoing Lymphovenous Anastomosis: A Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Pilot Study.","authors":"B K Kang, Y Y Lee, M H Beak, S Lee, K-J Woo, W-J Kim","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) and stellate ganglion block (SGB) have been reported as effective treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). However, no studies have evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided SGB in patients undergoing LVA. This study aimed to assess whether adding SGB to LVA improves outcomes in BCRL patients. Thirty BCRL patients were randomly assigned to either the control (LVA only, n = 15) or SGB group (n = 15). The SGB group received ultrasound-guided SGBs at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks postoperatively. Arm circumferences were measured at four points (5 cm and 10 cm above and below the elbow) at baseline and at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-surgery. Treatment-related variables were also analyzed to identify potential predictors of success. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no significant differences in circumferential changes between groups over time, although a decreasing trend was observed within groups. However, significant reductions in circumferential differences compared with baseline were observed at several measurement sites in the SGB group. Logistic regression analysis revealed no significant predictors of treatment success. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided SGB performed postoperatively may enhance the therapeutic effect of LVA in BCRL, further reducing arm circumferential differences.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Assessing Unilateral Arm Lymphedema Status Using Interarm Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios. 用臂间组织介电常数比评估单侧上臂淋巴水肿状态。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

H N Mayrovitz

{"title":"Assessing Unilateral Arm Lymphedema Status Using Interarm Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios.","authors":"H N Mayrovitz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"Early detection of early-stage lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment enables prompt intervention and can potentially slow disease progression. To support this, various methods have been developed that use quantitative criteria sensitive to excess tissue fluid, which is a hallmark of lymphedema. One such method involves measuring the dielectric constant (TDC) of arm tissue in both the at-risk and contralateral arms to calculate their ratio. This communication aims to estimate what constitutes an interarm TDC ratio likely to serve as a threshold for arm lymphedema. Data from 403 healthy women were used to calculate the ratio of the highest to the lowest forearm TDC values (β). The distribution of β was analyzed, and estimated lymphedema thresholds were calculated as the mean β plus 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 standard deviations, producing less and more conservative thresholds. Values ranged from approximately 1.15 to 1.20, with only 0.74% of cases exceed-ing a β value of 1.20. The β values were not affected by age, which ranged from 18 to 87, or body mass index, ranging from 14.7 to 49.9 kg/m². These data represent the most comprehensive reference values available to help physicians and therapists determine appropriate thresholds.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 1","pages":"20-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Responsiveness and Minimal Clinically Important Changes for the Upper Limb Functional Index, Shoulder Pain and Disability Scale, and Lymphedema Life Impact Scale in Patients with Lymphedema. 淋巴水肿患者上肢功能指数、肩部疼痛和残疾量表以及淋巴水肿生活影响量表的反应性和最小临床重要变化

Lymphology Pub Date : 2026-01-01

A Fattah, M Ravanbakhsh, M Saadat, S Salamat

{"title":"Responsiveness and Minimal Clinically Important Changes for the Upper Limb Functional Index, Shoulder Pain and Disability Scale, and Lymphedema Life Impact Scale in Patients with Lymphedema.","authors":"A Fattah, M Ravanbakhsh, M Saadat, S Salamat","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"This study assessed responsiveness of the Lymphedema Life Impact Scale (LLIS), Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) instruments in patients with upper limb lymphedema undergoing complete decongestive therapy (CDT). The prospective cohort study was conducted from March 2024 to May 2025. Participants were patients with unilateral upper limb lymphedema secondary to breast cancer. All patients completed the LLIS, ULFI, and SPADI at baseline and again after 10 sessions of physiotherapy delivered over a 20-day period. Additionally, a 7-point Global Rating of Change scale (GRC) was administered as an external anchor. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests were utilized to examine differences between pre- and post-intervention scores. A total of 110 patients were enrolled. The ULFI, LLIS, and SPADI demonstrated acceptable responsiveness, as indicated by an area under the curve (AUC) exceeding 0.70. Furthermore, the change scores for all three instruments exhibited strong correlations with patients' GRC scales, with Spearman correlation coefficients greater than 0.60. The results support the use of the LLIS, ULFI, and SPADI as reliable tools to monitor treatment outcomes in patients with upper limb lymphedema due to breast cancer.","PeriodicalId":94343,"journal":{"name":"Lymphology","volume":"59 2","pages":"48-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148341723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Pyomyositis of the Piriformis Muscle Secondary to Cellulitis Complicating Lymphedema. 继发于蜂窝织炎并发淋巴水肿的梨状肌化脓性炎。

Lymphology Pub Date : 2025-01-01

M Tsujita, Y Suzuki, T Kato, K Kishi

引用次数: 0

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