The Use of Noninvasive Imaging Techniques in the Assessment of Secondary Lymphedema Tissue Changes as Part of Staging Lymphedema

Too often, in clinical settings, the diagnosis and evolution of lymphedema is determined by limb circumference measurements and/or volume calculations. Besides the unrecognition of small lymphedemas, these techniques provide little to no information concerning the stage of the lymphedema. This latter is important in choosing appropriate treatment modalities and making an accurate prognosis. Different imaging techniques are described in literature giving insights in tissue changes due to lymphedema. The aim of this article is giving an overview of possible texture changes linked to the different edema stages, visualized with noninvasive imaging procedures like ultrasonography, computed tomography, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, or magnetic resonance imaging.