Non-Invasive Assessment of Human Clinical Lymphedema: The Progress Continues

Over the past 5 years, Lymphatic Research and Biology has been privileged to participate in the unfolding of the exciting prospects for bioimpedance spectroscopy to non-invasively evaluate human lymphedema and lymphedema risk.^1–4 In the current issue of the journal, we once again have the opportunity to explore the advances that have occurred in this field.

Based upon recently acquired data, Ward et al. ⁵ have successfully determined a reference range for the inter-arm impedance ratio, with the objective of establishing a cut-off value as a criterion for the detection of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Accordingly, the impedance ratio thresholds for early detection of lymphedema remain suitable for clinical use with the bioimpedance spectroscopy analyzers and measurement protocols in current clinical employ.

In an important, related publication, ⁶ Ward et al. have established the impedance ratio thresholds for lymphedema of the legs. This creates the possibility for the pragmatic clinical application of this highly useful technology for the early detection and assessment of lower limb lymphedema.

Of related interest in this issue are the articles of Lee et al. ⁷ and Jensen et al. ⁸ All of these developments augur well for the future assessment of lymphedema risk and its early detection.