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A Simple and Innovative Device to Measure Arm Volume at Home for Patients With Lymphedema After Breast Cancer

Jean Lette

From the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Maisonneuve Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Address reprint requests to Jean Lette, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Maisonneuve Hospital, 5415 Assomption Blvd, Montreal, QC, Canada H1T 2M4; e-mail: jlette{at}lette.com

PURPOSE: We designed an arm volumeter specifically for home use based on the water displacement method. The objective of this study was to determine its accuracy and precision, and compare it with a standard volumeter used in lymphedema clinics worldwide.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a standard model hospital volumeter and our own device, we took three consecutive measurements of 11 specially cast cylinders, which had known volumes ranging from 10mL to 4 L, and measurements of both arms of 15 volunteers.

RESULTS: Measurements with both volumeters were highly accurate (R² = 0.9999) when compared with the known volumes of the cast cylinders, and were strongly correlated (R² = 0.9974) when each arm volume was compared between volumeters. Measurements with our volumeter were more precise both with the cylinders (average standard deviation [SD], 3.2 v 8 mL; P = .0553) and with the arms (average SD, 11.1 v 19 mL; P = .0034). Whereas the standard volumeter is expensive, fragile (acrylic), and prone to leaks, our volumeter is inexpensive, virtually indestructible, leak proof, and suitable for home use.

CONCLUSION: Arm volumes can be measured quickly and accurately at home using a simple, inexpensive, and robust device based on water displacement. Readily accessible arm volumetry at home may have widespread influence on the management of lymphedema after breast cancer.

Author's disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.