Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39438358›Full record

SynthesisMedical oncology (Northwood, London, England)2024

Effectiveness of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity breast cancer-related lymphedema: a review of systematic reviews.

Laura Gilchrist, Kim Levenhagen, Claire C Davies, Linda Koehler

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–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

20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  3. What are the effects of pilates and dance on upper limb functionality in women post-breast cancer surgery? a randomized three-arm clinical trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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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

4 authors.

Laura GilchristDoctor of Physical Therapy Program, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, USA. lsgilchrist@stkate.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8306-1313
Kim LevenhagenDepartment of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4201-8113
Claire C DaviesNursing and Allied Health Research Office, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5970-6719
Linda KoehlerDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Division of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6375-7719

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) remains a challenging condition impacting function and quality of life. Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is the current standard of care, necessitating a comprehensive review of its impact. This paper presents a systematic review (SR) of SRs on CDT's efficacy in BCRL, and the components of manual lymph drainage (MLD) and exercise. A literature search yielded 13 SRs published between January 2018 and March 2023 meeting inclusion criteria, with varied quality ratings based on the AMSTAR II. A sub-analysis of CDT investigated the within group effect size estimations on volume in different stages of lymphedema. While a moderate quality SR indicated support for CDT in volume reduction, other SRs on the topic were of critically low quality. Larger effect sizes for CDT were found for later stage BCRL. The impact of MLD as a component of CDT demonstrated no additional volume benefit in a mix of moderate to low quality SRs. Similarly, exercise's role in volume reduction in CDT was limited, although it demonstrated some benefit in pain and quality of life. A rapid review of trials published January 2021-March 2023 reinforced these findings. Variability in CDT delivery and outcomes remained. These findings underscore the need to standardize staging criteria and outcome measures in research and practice. Future research should focus on refining interventions, determining clinically important differences in outcomes, and standardizing measures to improve evidence-based BCRL management. Current evidence supports CDT's efficacy in BCRL. MLD and exercise as components of CDT have limited support for volume reduction.

Indexed as

Breast Cancer LymphedemaBreast NeoplasmsManual Lymphatic DrainageUpper ExtremityExercise TherapyFemaleHumansQuality of LifeSystematic Reviews as TopicTreatment OutcomeEvidence-based practiceInterventionOncologyRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID39438358
PMCPMC11496316

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.