Lower extremity lymphedema index: a simple method for severity evaluation of lower extremity lymphedema.

Takumi Yamamoto, Nana Matsuda, Takeshi Todokoro, Hidehiko Yoshimatsu, Mitsunaga Narushima, Makoto Mihara, Gentaro Uchida, Isao Koshima

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Annals of plastic surgery (impact factor: 1.29). 03/2011; 67(6):637-40. DOI:10.1097/SAP.0b013e318208fd75

ABSTRACT

Measurement of the circumference is the most commonly used method for evaluating extremity lymphedema. However, comparison between different patients is difficult with this measurement. To resolve this problem, we have formulated a new index, lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) index, which can be easily obtained from measurements of the body. We evaluated correlation between lower LEL index and clinical stage in patients with LEL. The LEL indices were significantly correlated with clinical stages and could be used as a severity scale. The LEL index makes objective assessment of the severity of lymphedema through a numerical rating, regardless of the body type. This numerical rating makes the index useful for evaluation of lymphedema severities between different cases.

Source: PubMed