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Can Deep Fascial Thickness Predict Treatment Response in Patients With Postmastectomy Lymphedema? An Ultrasonographic Approach
Sponsor: Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
Summary
Research and Literature Summary / References (The research summary must not exceed 250 words and must be written in a clear, easily understandable form.) Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease that develops as a result of the accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitial tissue following disruption of lymphatic drainage. Lymphedema of the upper extremity seen after breast cancer treatment is the most frequently encountered form, and it causes loss of function, restriction of movement, and deterioration in quality of life. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), a component of complex decongestive therapy (CDT), is a method of proven efficacy in reducing skin and subcutaneous tissue thickness. Demonstrated that compression applied at different pressures produced a significant reduction in skin and subcutaneous tissue thickness and accelerated the resolution of edema. High-resolution ultrasound is used as a reliable method for evaluating the skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and fascial structures in lymphedema.Reported that in patients with lymphedema there is thickening of the cutis and subcutaneous tissue, an increase in echogenicity, and structural changes in the fascial structures, and that these changes may show a regional distribution. In another study by the same research group, it was determined that in patients with lymphedema the superficial and deep fasciae are thinner compared with healthy individuals. It was emphasized that this may be an important clue regarding the role of fascial structure in the development of lymphedema. In this thesis study, the effect of MLD treatment on days 1 and 15 in patients with stage 1-2 lymphedema will be evaluated by ultrasound, and the relationship between changes in subcutaneous tissue thickness and deep fascia thickness will be investigated. The aim is thereby to objectively demonstrate the response given to treatment and to make clinical rehabilitation more individualized.
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
42
Start Date
2025-11-13
Completion Date
2026-09-01
Last Updated
2026-09-11
Healthy Volunteers
Not specified
Conditions
Interventions
manual lymphatic drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) was applied by a physiotherapist experienced in lymphedema management. Sessions lasted \[45\] minutes and were performed 5 days per week for 3 weeks, for a total of 15 sessions. Treatment started with proximal clearing of the neck, contralateral axillary and inguinal nodes, followed by distal- to-proximal drainage of the affected upper limb. MLD was combined with multilayer short-stretch compression bandaging, skin care and remedial exercises as part of complete decongestive therapy.Limb circumference and ultrasonographic measurements of subcutaneous tissue and deep fascia thickness were obtained on day 1 and day 15.
Locations (1)
Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)