Decision-making for lymphedema diagnostic and surveillance measures: a case-based approach

Purpose of review: An expanding array of diagnostic techniques for lymphedema detection and monitoring constitutes a growing aspect of lymphedema care. This discipline includes both the development and the clinical integration of methods to optimize and tailor clinical care for individuals affected by (or at risk for) lymphedema. A case-based approach highlights the practical application of these diagnostic modalities. Recent findings: A recent critical review synthesized the evidence base for a range of techniques used to diagnose, characterize and quantify lymphedema, including current and emergent methods. Available modalities include traditional methods, such as clinical examination and circumferential tape measurement, as well as recently developed digitally-based techniques. Their availability ranges widely from ubiquitous office-based approaches to advanced imaging tools. Evaluation of assessment approaches should emphasize their capacity to enhance clinical practice by advancing the core aims of lymphedema evaluation: screening, diagnosis, individualizing management, and monitoring treatment response. Summary: The use of cases illustrates how lymphedema assessment modalities are being integrated into clinical care, including their strengths and limitations, while highlighting the necessity of a person-centered approach, for each of the aims noted above.