Thermography Lymphedema Data

Assessment of skin temperature: Analysis of cutaneous temperature of the anterior face of the arm (Area 1), forearm (Area 2), and hands (Area 3) were performed using QuickReport software, version 1.2 FLIR® Systems. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities are considered acceptable for skin temperature assessment with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of 0.79 and 0.80.
Ankle-brachial index: General arterial compromise was assessed using the ankle-brachial index (ABI). The systolic pressures of the posterior tibial and brachial arteries were measured bilaterally. The result was then obtained through the relationship between the greater pressure of the ankle and the higher systolic pressure found in the brachial artery of the upper limbs.
Assessment of limb volume: The calculation of upper limb volume was performed using the indirect method by the sum of the approximate volume of the six truncated cones, formed by the circumferential points of the seven points of the arm and forearm.
Correlation between cutaneous temperature and limb volume with lymphedema: To analyze the correlation between cutaneous temperature and upper limb volume with lymphedema, the arm/forearm (area 1/area 2) temperature values were used, as the volume was calculated according to axillary line values to the wrist in the affected limb.
The correlation between skin temperature and lymphedema volume was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient assuming a significance level of 5%.
Statistical analysis: The normality of the data was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test and presented as mean and standard deviation. The mixed regression test was used to compare the temperature variable, in the different areas evaluated, of the affected limb in the lymphedema group to the dominant limb in the control group, as well as the temperature differences in the affected upper limb. The correlation between limb volume and temperature was analyzed using Spearman’s test.