Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38881309›Full record

ArticleUltrasonography (Seoul, Korea)2024

Ultrasonographic features of the skin and subcutis: correlations with the severity of breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Ji Youn Park, Jae Yong Jeon, Seungwoo Cha

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ultrasonography (Seoul, Korea), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
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

3 authors.

Ji Youn ParkDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Yong JeonDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seungwoo ChaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAssessing the severity of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) requires various clinical tools, yet no standardized methodology is available. Ultrasonography shows promise for diagnosing lymphedema and evaluating its severity. This study explored the clinical utility of ultrasonography in patients with BCRL.

methodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, patients with unilateral BCRL were examined. The analyzed data included demographics, lymphedema location, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stage, surgical history, treatment regimens, and arm circumference. Skin, subcutis, and muscle thicknesses were assessed ultrasonographically at predetermined sites, and the percentage of excess thickness was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify associations between ultrasonographic measurements and advanced lymphedema (ISL 2 or 3). The Lymphedema Quality of Life arm questionnaire was used to evaluate patient-reported outcomes regarding lymphedema and their correlations with ultrasonographic findings.

resultsAmong 118 patients, 71 were classified as ISL 0-1 and 47 as ISL 2-3. Patients with advanced lymphedema were older, had higher nodal stages, underwent more axillary lymph node dissections, and had higher rates of dominant-arm lymphedema. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant associations of greater skin thickness (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.634; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.233 to 17.419), subcutis thickness (adjusted OR, 7.741; 95% CI, 1.649 to 36.347), and subcutis echogenicity (adjusted OR, 4.860; 95% CI, 1.517 to 15.566) with advanced lymphedema. Furthermore, greater skin thickness (P=0.016) and subcutis echogenicity (P=0.023) were correlated with appearance-related discomfort.

conclusionUltrasonographic measurements were significantly associated with advanced lymphedema in BCRL. Ultrasonography represents a valuable diagnostic and severity assessment tool for lymphedema.

Indexed as

Breast neoplasmLymphatic systemLymphedemaUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID38881309
PMCPMC11222127

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.