Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Jun;39(3):488-493. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.488.

Computed Tomography as an Objective Measurement Tool for Secondary Lymphedema Treated With Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

• Kim SY
• Bae H
• Ji HM

• KMID: 2165654
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.488

Abstract

Two patients with stage three secondary lymphedema of the upper extremities underwent treatment for breast cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. They were examined with computed tomography (CT) before and after extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). We used a manual tracing method using PiViewSTAR software to calculate the volume of the upper extremities. There was a decrease in the volume of the subcutaneous compartment measured by CT before and after ESWT. CT may be helpful in determining the treatment target area of ESWT and to monitor the effect of treatment by measuring the changes in volume before and after ESWT in patients with lymphedema. Therefore, CT may have good clinical potential for treatment and follow-up in the management of lymphedema.

Keyword

Lymphedema; Subcutaneous tissue; High-energy shock waves

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Drug Therapy
High-Energy Shock Waves
Humans
Lymphedema*
Radiotherapy
Shock*
Subcutaneous Tissue
Upper Extremity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of computed tomography of the upper extremity. Before (A) and after (B) treatment in the case 1 patient. Before (C) and after (D) treatment of the case 2 patient.

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  Fig. 2 Computed tomography based on the volume measurement method for lymphedema of the upper extremity whole extremity (1), the sum of bone and muscle (2).

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