Document Detail


Reliability study of measurements for lymphedema in breast cancer patients.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17993983     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Water displacement, circumference measurement, and tissue tonometry are important methods to evaluate the status of lymphedemous limbs in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliabilities, and define the limits for clinical change indicative of clinical improvement with respect to these three measures. DESIGN: Fourteen patients were recruited for water displacement and circumference measurement, and 17 for tissue resistance by tonometry. All had been treated for breast cancer and subsequently developed lymphedema. Two physical therapists conducted the measurements to determine intra- and interrater reliability. RESULTS: All measures had fair to excellent reliability (water displacement and circumference measurement, intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] >0.99, P < 0.05; tissue tonometry, 0.66 < ICC < 0.88, P < 0.05). There was no systematic change in the mean for any of the measures. The variation, as determined by standard error of measurement (SEM), SEM%, smallest real difference (SRD), and SRD% was greatest for tissue tonometry. CONCLUSIONS: Water displacement and circumference measurement (but not tonometry) are reliable techniques for assessing lymphedema in clinical practice. The effect of modifying the tonometry protocol and increasing the amount of rater training should be studied to determine whether the reliability of this method can be improved.
Authors:
Yu-Wei Chen; Han-Ju Tsai; Hsiu-Chuan Hung; Jau-Yih Tsauo
Related Documents :
22475313 - Derivation and validation of a multivariate model to predict mortality from pulmonary e...
19683743 - Electrical properties of prostatic tissues: ii. spectral admittivity properties.
19807593 - Paclitaxel: cost-effectiveness in ovarian cancer.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists     Volume:  87     ISSN:  0894-9115     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Phys Med Rehabil     Publication Date:  2008 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-12-25     Completed Date:  2008-02-07     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8803677     Medline TA:  Am J Phys Med Rehabil     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  33-8     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Arm / anatomy & histology*
Body Weights and Measures / methods*
Breast Neoplasms / complications*
Female
Humans
Lymphedema / diagnosis*,  etiology
Manometry / methods
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Psychometric properties of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia...
Next Document:  Rehabilitation of neuromyelitis optica (Devic syndrome): three case reports.