ArticleAnnals of plastic surgery2023
Fluid Distribution Patterns in Early-Stage Upper Extremity Lymphedema.
Article in Annals of plastic surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Superficial and Functional Imaging of the Posterior Upper Arm Pathway in the Healthy Population.Journal of surgical oncology · 2026Article
- High-Frequency Ultrasonography Imaging: Anatomical Measuring Site as Potential Clinical Marker for Early Identification of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.Biomedicines · 2025Article
- Changes on noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging following lymphatic surgery for upper extremity secondary lymphedema.Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders · 2025Article
- Immediate lymphatic reconstruction: Lessons learned over eight years.Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS · 2024Article
- Edematous Dermal Thickening on Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Biomarker for Lymphatic Surgical Outcomes.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stage 1 (early stage) upper extremity lymphedema is characterized by fluid infiltration in the subcutaneous tissues that does not exceed 50% of the extremity circumference at any level. The spatial fluid distribution in these cases has not been detailed and may be important to help determine the presence and location of compensatory lymphatic channels. The aim of this study is to determine whether there was a pattern of distribution of fluid infiltration in patients with early-stage lymphedema that could correspond to known lymphatic pathways in the upper extremity.
methodsA retrospective review identified all patients with MRI stage 1 upper extremity lymphedema who were evaluated at a single lymphatic center. Using a standardized scoring system, a radiologist graded the severity of fluid infiltration at 18 anatomical locations. A cumulative spatial histogram was then created to map out regions where fluid accumulation occurred most and least frequently.
resultsEleven patients with MRI stage 1 upper extremity lymphedema were identified between January 2017 and January 2022. The mean age was 58 years and the mean BMI was 30 m/kg2. One patient had primary lymphedema and the remaining 10 had secondary lymphedema. The forearm was affected in nine cases, and fluid infiltration was predominantly concentrated along the ulnar aspect, followed by the volar aspect, while the radial aspect was completely spared. Within the upper arm, fluid was primarily concentrated distally and posteriorly, and occasionally medially.
conclusionsIn patients with early-stage lymphedema, fluid infiltration is concentrated along the ulnar forearm and the posterior distal upper arm, which aligns with the tricipital lymphatic pathway. There is also sparing of fluid accumulation along the radial forearm in these patients, suggesting a more robust lymphatic drainage along this region, possibly due to a connection to the lateral upper arm pathway.
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