Bioimpedance Spectroscopy is Allowing for Lymphedema Reduction in Breast Cancer

The use of bioimpedance spectroscopy allows clinicians to diagnose lymphedema prior to symptoms being present. This new technology, which the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is utilizing, has been integrated into the check-in routine alongside the normal vitals. This tool will be especially useful for patients with breast cancer, as lymphedema is typically present after lymph node removal or radiation.

Patients are able to place their hands and feet on the machine, and in under 2 minutes, the results show if there is an increase of fluid in a specific limb. Prior to surgery, baseline fluid levels are collected so clinicians can determine if there has been an increase.

Kandance P. McGuire, MD, FACS, spoke with CancerNetwork® about this new technology. The results from the report will go into a patient’s electronic medical records, and clinicians will be notified about any changes and if referrals to rehabilitation services are needed.

McGuire is interim senior vice president of the Cancer Service Line and chief of breast surgery at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Transcript:

Bioimpedance spectroscopy is the use of a small electrical signal that measures “bioimpedance”. What that means is looking at the impedance of tissue to the transit of that electrical signal from one place to another. In the early years, it was done with old school EKG leads, where the impedance was measured between the leads. Now, with new technology, it’s similar to those body composition scales you see that people use, where you are putting your bare feet on one part of the unit, and your ungloved hands on one part of the unit, and then it’s measuring the transit of that signal from your hands to your feet, vice versa. The longer it takes the signal to get from one point to the other, the more fluid there is in the body, and the more likely it is that a patient’s going to experience lymphedema.

Reference

VCU Massey now offers new technology for early detection of lymphedema. News release. December 8, 2025. Accessed December 23, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/2ktfzf5k