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A longitudinal study of shoulder and arm morbidity in breast cancer survivors 7 years after sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection

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Abstract

Knowledge about long-term consequences of breast cancer treatment on shoulder and arm function and volume in stages I–II breast cancer survivors is limited. The effects of shoulder–arm function shortly after surgery on long-term function are unknown. One hundred and ninety-four women were examined pre-surgery (T0) and 6 weeks after surgery (T1). Of those, 110 were re-examined 7 years later (T2). Thirty-four women underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and 76 underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Differences between affected and unaffected side were calculated for four ranges of motion functions, three strength functions and arm volume. These were used to analyse time and group effects. Differences exceeding 20° in range of motion, 20 % in strength and 200 ml in arm volume were considered clinically relevant. Multivariate regression analyses examined the effect of shoulder–arm function at T1 on shoulder–arm function at T2. Additional predictor variables included were age, follow-up time, Body Mass Index, complications, chemotherapy, radiation, SLNB/ALND and type of breast surgery. At T2, range of motion (except external rotation), abduction strength and arm volume were impaired compared to T0. After ALND, women had significantly more forward flexion impairment, increased arm volume and clinically relevant impairments (70 %) than after SLNB (41 %). T1 external rotation, abduction–external rotation, grip strength and arm volume were the strongest predictors of these variables at T2. Age was the strongest predictor of the remaining four variables. ALND predicted arm volume only. Seven years after breast cancer surgery, two-fifth of the women after SLNB and seven out of ten women after ALND had impairments. Impairments were found in five of eight shoulder–arm functions. After SLNB, women have less forward flexion impairment and less arm volume increase than after ALND. Shoulder–arm function at 6 weeks after surgery and age are the strongest predictors of long-term shoulder–arm function.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

The medical ethical committee of both hospitals approved the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Jan J. Kootstra, Jaap de Vries & Harald J. Hoekstra

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Pieter U. Dijkstra & Jan H. B. Geertzen

  3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Pieter U. Dijkstra

  4. Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Hans Rietman

  5. Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Hans Rietman

  6. Department of Surgery, Martini Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Peter Baas

  7. Wenckebach Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Josette E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers

  8. Comprehensive Cancer Center Netherlands, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Josette E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers

Authors
  1. Jan J. Kootstra
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  2. Pieter U. Dijkstra
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  5. Peter Baas
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  6. Jan H. B. Geertzen
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  7. Harald J. Hoekstra
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  8. Josette E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harald J. Hoekstra.

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Kootstra, J.J., Dijkstra, P.U., Rietman, H. et al. A longitudinal study of shoulder and arm morbidity in breast cancer survivors 7 years after sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. Breast Cancer Res Treat 139, 125–134 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2509-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2509-y

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