Clinical trial NCT03978754: Assessment of Breast Cancer-Related Arm Lymphedema
Official title: Assessment of Breast Cancer-Related Arm Lymphedema-Comparison of Traditional Measurement Methods and Indocyanine Green（ICG）Lymphography
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Breast Cancer
Keywords: Lymphedema
Breast cancer
ICG lymphography
Bioelectrical impedance technology
Lead sponsor: Peking University People's Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-06-07
Enrollment: 1600
Sex: FEMALE
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Group1: Patients who visit the clinic; Group2: Preoperative subjects diagnosed with breast cancer.

Brief summary: Lymphedema is a serious complication of breast cancer treatment. Reported prevalence of lymphedema following treatment for breast cancer varies, ranging from 7-45%. The reason for the wide variation in the reported incidence of lymphedema is the different measurement techniques used and the absence of an agreed diagnostic criteria. Nowadays, the common method include limb circumference measurement、volume measurement、bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and self-report. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. A variety of publications have demonstrated the ability of bioimpedance to diagnose subclinical lymphedema. As a new method for detecting lymphedema, some study have also shown indocyanine green（ICG）lymphography can have a certain value for the detection of subclinical lymphedema. Early detection can reduce the incidence of late-stage lymphedema in postoperative patients. Therefore, we want to explore the ability of these methods. We are going to perform baseline arm circumference measurements and bioelectrical impedance measurements for all preoperative breast cancer patients in our center. In addition, the arm circumference measurement、volume measurement、bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) 、self-report and indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography will be performed on patients who go to the lymphedema clinic after breast cancer surgery. First, we want to establish the threshold and reference value range based on the impedance value of patients with lymphedema and people without lymphedema.Second, we are going to examine the relationship between the most commonly used methods of lymphedema and also to test which method is more sensitive for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical lymphedema. Finally, we want to explore the ability of ICG lymphography in detecting sub-clinical lymphedema.

Detailed description: Breast cancer is a common malignant disease that threatens the health of women. As a serious complication of breast cancer treatment, lymphedema is caused by chronic accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstitial spaces of the affected limb or surrounding areas. Reported prevalence of lymphedema following treatment for breast cancer varies, ranging from 7-45%. One reason for the wide variation in the reported incidence of lymphedema is the different measurement techniques used and the absence of an agreed diagnostic criteria. Nowadays, the common method include limb circumference measurement、volume measurement、bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and self-report. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. A variety of publications have demonstrated the ability of bioimpedance to diagnose subclinical lymphedema. As a new method for detecting lymphedema, some study have also shown indocyanine green（ICG）lymphography can have a certain value for the detection of subclinical lymphedema. Early detection can reduce the incidence of late-stage lymphedema in postoperative patients. Therefore, we want to explore the ability of these methods. We are going to perform baseline arm circumference measurements and bioelectrical impedance measurements for all preoperative breast cancer patients in our center. In addition, the arm circumference measurement、volume measurement、bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) 、self-report and indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography will be performed on patients who go to the lymphedema clinic after breast cancer surgery.First, we want to establish the threshold and reference value range based on the impedance value of patients with lymphedema and people without lymphedema.Second, we are going to examine the relationship between the most commonly used methods of lymphedema and also to test which method is more sensitive for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical lymphedema. Finally, we want to explore the ability of ICG lymphography in detecting sub-clinical lymphedema.

Eligibility criteria: The eligibility criteria for patients who visit the clinic:

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with breast cancer who underwent axillary surgery.
* Patients who have complaints about upper extremity lymphedema and are willing to undergo examination.
* Sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Bilateral breast cancer.
* A history of allergy to contrast agents.
* There are arteriovenous thrombosis in the affected limb.
* Regional lymph node recurrence
* Did not sign informed consent.
* Serious heart, brain and other diseases.
* The primary lymphatic system diseases (such as lymphatic leakage).
* Only one side of the limb received ICG angiography.

The eligibility criteria for preoperative subjects diagnosed with breast cancer:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Preoperative subjects diagnosed with breast cancer at our breast center.

Exclusion Criteria:

• We strictly excluded all possible causes of lymphedema. Subjects whose clinical stage of lymph node is N2 or higher were excluded. Subjects with lymphedema -related diseases or kidney disease, inflammatory breast cancer, a history of axillary surgery, radiotherapy to the upper limbs or the chest wall, soft tissue infection, pregnancy, congestive heart-failure, administration of diuretics (which may have significantly changed the hydration status) and implanted devices (e.g., pacemakers), were also excluded.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Sensitivity and specificity of indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography
timeFrame: 2017-2022
measure: The incidence of lymphedema
timeFrame: 2017-2022
measure: The cutoff value of BIS
timeFrame: 2017-2022
measure: The occurrence of lymphedema after follow-up
timeFrame: 2017-2022
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Beijing
country: China
facility: Peking University People's Hospital
state: Beijing
Study officials:
affiliation: Peking University People's Hospital
name: Wang Shu
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Azhar SH, Lim HY, Tan BK, Angeli V. The Unresolved Pathophysiology of Lymphedema. Front Physiol. 2020 Mar 17;11:137. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00137. eCollection 2020.
citation: Executive Committee of the International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2020 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology. 2020;53(1):3-19.
citation: Czerniec SA, Ward LC, Refshauge KM, Beith J, Lee MJ, York S, Kilbreath SL. Assessment of breast cancer-related arm lymphedema--comparison of physical measurement methods and self-report. Cancer Invest. 2010 Jan;28(1):54-62. doi: 10.3109/07357900902918494.
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citation: Yamamoto T, Yamamoto N, Doi K, Oshima A, Yoshimatsu H, Todokoro T, Ogata F, Mihara M, Narushima M, Iida T, Koshima I. Indocyanine green-enhanced lymphography for upper extremity lymphedema: a novel severity staging system using dermal backflow patterns. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011 Oct;128(4):941-947. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182268cd9.
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citation: Ward LC. Bioelectrical impedance analysis: proven utility in lymphedema risk assessment and therapeutic monitoring. Lymphat Res Biol. 2006 Spring;4(1):51-6. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2006.4.51. No abstract available.
citation: Fu MR, Cleland CM, Guth AA, Kayal M, Haber J, Cartwright F, Kleinman R, Kang Y, Scagliola J, Axelrod D. L-dex ratio in detecting breast cancer-related lymphedema: reliability, sensitivity, and specificity. Lymphology. 2013 Jun;46(2):85-96.
citation: Ward LC, Czerniec S, Kilbreath SL. Quantitative bioimpedance spectroscopy for the assessment of lymphoedema. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Oct;117(3):541-7. doi: 10.1007/s10549-008-0258-0. Epub 2008 Dec 11.