Yonsei Med J.  2011 Jul;52(4):661-667. 10.3349/ymj.2011.52.4.661.

Causes of Shoulder Pain in Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study

• Jeong HJ
• Sim YJ
• Hwang KH
• Kim GC

• KMID: 1728000
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2011.52.4.661

Abstract

PURPOSE
To inform on shoulder pathology and to identify the disabilities and level of quality of life (QOL) associated with shoulder pain in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using patient history, physical examination, and ultrasound (US), we classified patients with BCRL into the following three groups: no pain with normal ultrasound (US), pain with normal US, and pain with abnormal US. We evaluated shoulder pathology using US, pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional disability using the Korean version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. For assessment of QOL, we used the Korean version of the brief form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF).
RESULTS
28.9% of patients had no pain and normal US, 31.6% had pain with normal US, and 39.5% had pain with abnormal US. The US findings for those with pain and abnormal US revealed the following: 53.3% had a supraspinatus tear, 13.3% had biceps tenosynovitis, 13.3% had acromioclavicular arthritis, 13.3% had subdeltoid bursitis, and 53.3% had adhesive capsulitis. Patients with shoulder pain and abnormal US findings had significantly higher mean DASH and pain scores. Pain scores were positively correlated with DASH scores and negatively correlated with QOL.
CONCLUSION
We found that BCRL with shoulder pain and evidence of shoulder pathology on US was associated with reduced QOL and increased disability. Proper diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain are necessary to improve QOL and decrease disability in patients with BCRL.

Keyword

Lymphedema; shoulder pain; ultrasound

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Breast Neoplasms/*complications
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Lymphedema/*complications/ultrasonography
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Quality of Life
Shoulder Pain/*etiology/ultrasonography

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Correlation between Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and pain scores in breast cancer-related lymphedema.

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  Fig. 2 Correlation of between quality of life (QOL) and pain in breast cancer-related lymphedema.

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