Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33913006›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2021

Upper limb sensory evaluations and ultrasonographic skin measurements in breast cancer-related lymphedema receiving complex decongestive physiotherapy.

Emine Baran, Levent Özçakar, Serap Özgül, Sercan Aksoy, Türkan Akbayrak

Registry-linked trialOpen access · bronzeAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04296929 (The Effect of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy on Sensory Parameters in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Patients), which is not on this map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04296929 naunknown statusnot on this map

The Effect of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy on Sensory Parameters in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorHacettepe UniversityRan2019 to 2021Enrolled30ConditionsLymphedema, Lymphedema of Upper Arm, Breast CancerArmsComplex Decongestive Physiotherapy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Impact of Anesthetic Cream and Vibration on Injection Pain in Lymphedema.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026
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  3. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Emine BaranFaculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, 06100, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey. eminekbaran@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4974-6543
Levent ÖzçakarFaculty of Medicine, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2713-4071
Serap ÖzgülFaculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, 06100, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2362-6773
Sercan AksoyFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4984-1049
Türkan AkbayrakFaculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, 06100, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5840-5252
Hacettepe University · TR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aims of this study were to investigate if/how the presence of lymphedema affects the sensation of the upper limb and to assess whether complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) has a favorable impact on sensory testing.

methodsA total of 27 patients with unilateral stage 2 breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) were included in the study. Bilateral circumferential measurements were taken with a tape measure at different levels. Based on these measurements, limb volumes were determined by summing segment volumes derived from the truncated cone formula. Circumferential measurements and ultrasonographic evaluations (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat thicknesses) were performed at 10 cm distal to the elbow crease. The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM), static and moving two-point discrimination, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and tactile localization tests were also applied at the same site. After an initial evaluation, all patients underwent CDP phase 1 program. All the evaluations were repeated at the end of the treatment period.

resultsBefore CDP, affected sides had significantly higher values than the unaffected sides in terms of SWM (p < 0.001), static (p = 0.002) and moving (p = 0.011) two-point discrimination, PPT (p = 0.001), and tactile localization (p < 0.001) values. After CDP, SWM (p = 0.002), static (p = 0.009) and moving (p = 0.024) two-point discrimination, PPT (p = 0.014), and tactile localization (p < 0.001) values decreased significantly on the affected sides.

conclusionBCRL seems to reduce light touch, static and moving two-point discrimination, PPT, and tactile localization sensations, whereas CDP seems to improve these sensory perceptions in women with BCRL. Ultrasonographic measurements also appear to be promising for prompt and convenient follow-up in the management of BCRL.

trial registrationClinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04296929 (date of registration: March 5, 2020).

Indexed as

Breast Cancer LymphedemaBreast NeoplasmsLymphedemaFemaleHumansPhysical Therapy ModalitiesUpper ExtremityLymphedemaPressure pain thresholdSemmes–WeinsteinTactile localizationTwo-point discriminationUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID33913006
PMCPMC8081563
OpenAlexW3159659411

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.