Diagnosing Male Unilateral Upper Limb Lymphedema: Determination of Normatively Determined Thresholds Using Bioimpedance Spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The use of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) for the detection of unilateral upper limb lymphedema is growing. Currently, normatively determined diagnostic thresholds using bioimpedance are available for females only. It is unclear if they are suitable for males at risk of unilateral upper limb lymphedema. The aim of the present study was to determine normatively based bioimpedance thresholds for male unilateral upper limb lymphedema.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Impedance values (R0 ) for the upper limbs of 60 healthy adult male participants were assessed using BIS. As has been found in females, dominance was found to significantly impact on R0 values (p = 0.002); therefore, two diagnostic thresholds are required depending on the at-risk limb. Interlimb impedance thresholds were calculated, set at both two standard deviations (2SD) and three standard deviations (3SD) above the mean. The 3SD threshold for unilateral lymphedema in the upper limbs of males is 1.127 for the dominant at-risk limb and 1.094 for the nondominant at-risk limb. The 2SD threshold is 1.090 for the dominant at-risk limb and 1.058 for the nondominant at-risk limb. These differ from what has previously been found for females.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to establish normatively determined bioimpedance thresholds for male unilateral upper limb lymphedema. These thresholds should now be used to improve early detection of male unilateral upper limb lymphedema.