Risk Profiling of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) in Patients With Breast Cancer Via Using Body Composition and Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) Method: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most prominent long-term side effects of breast cancer (BC) treatment. Although an increased BMI is a well-recognized risk factor for BCRL, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the potential associations between body composition and the risk of BCRL. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the BCRL risk profiles of surgically operated BC patients via body composition and the Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) method, respectively.

Methods

A total of 72 patients were included. Patients’ risk for BCRL was assessed with Moisture MeterD (Delfin, Finland) in 4 different probes each has unique penetration depths from 0.5 (10 mm) to 5.0 (55 mm) at both upper extremities. The body composition was analyzed with Tanita-BC-420 (TANITA, Japan). Comparing the dielectric values of extremities and proportioning to one another as TDC ratio (at-risk side/unaffected side) was used to profile BCRL risk.

Results

TDC values of the thorax reference point were significantly higher in all four probes on the at-risk side (P < .05). TDC ratios in the forearm and Thorax points were significantly correlated with fat mass (r = 0.256, P = .030; r = 0.269, P = .022) as well as with visceral fat rating (VFR) (r = 0.340, P = .003; r = 0.466, P < .001).

Conclusion

This study highlights the need for further care and investigation in the assessment and prediction of BCRL by considering body composition. Since the risk reduction of BCRL can be maximized by considering the individual features, we can conclude that patients with higher body fat irrespective of the BMI should be followed up regularly.