Predictive value of lymphoscintigraphy in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema undergoing complex decongestive therapy.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic value of lymphoscintigraphy after complex decongestive therapy (CDT) in breast cancer-related secondary lymphedema.

METHODS

Prior to CDT, 80 patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema underwent a 99mTc tin-colloid lymphoscintigram. We investigated the uptake patterns of axillary lymph nodes (LNs), main lymphatic vessels, collateral lymphatic vessels, and dermal back flow in the lymphoscintigraphy of the upper extremities. We also compared the above findings with other clinical variables between patients who respond well to CDT (responders) and those who do not (poor responders). We used Pearson's χ2 test and Fisher's exact test to compare the lymphoscintigram findings with the studied variables.

RESULTS

There were 50 poor responders and 30 responders 1 year after CDT. There were significant differences between the two groups with regard to compliance (P < 0.05) and visualization of axillary LNs (P < 0.05). In combined results, the odds ratio was 21.33 (2.37-192.03) in the compliance and visible axillary LNs group compared to the poor compliance and invisible axillary LNs group.

CONCLUSION

Lymphoscintigraphy of the upper extremities can be a useful tool to predict the prognosis of CDT in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients.