Clinimetric properties of clinical objective measurement methods for screening, diagnosis, and/or evaluation of lower limb lymphoedema: a systematic review with narrative synthesis of results.

Purpose

To offer a summary of the clinimetrics of measurement methods used for screening, diagnosis, and evaluation of lower limb lymphoedema (LLL).

Materials and methods

Data sources: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Searches were performed on 1 December 2022 and reconducted on 18 July 2024. Study selection: Studies in patients with (or at risk for) LLL, whether or not compared to healthy controls. Data extraction: Quantitative data on clinimetric properties.

Results

Twenty-three papers were included and divided in papers reporting on clinimetrics of methods assessing swelling, skin properties, local tissue water, and intra- and extracellular fluid. Water displacement, opto-electronic volumetry, and circumference measures seem to be reliable measurement methods to be applied in clinical practice. Circumference measures (with 8 cm interval) is a time-efficient method with few practical limitations.

Conclusions

Based on the little literature available in patients with LLL, we recommend to select different methods assessing more than one lymphedoema characteristic to get a clear overview on the patient's lymphoedema status. At this moment, literature is still unclear on the use of specific measurement methods in LLL. More research regarding validity, responsiveness, and feasibility is needed.