The Role of Sonographic Imaging to Assess the Pathophysiology of Cording in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study

The pathophysiology of cording (visible bands of tissue that can form in the ipsilateral axilla and arm following breast cancer surgery) remains equivocal. Cording can be a painful and functionally limiting condition. Our aim was to assess the role of duplex ultrasonographic imaging as a diagnostic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of diagnostic medical sonography 2015-09, Vol.31 (5), p.276-281
Main Authors: O’Toole, Jean, Hannon, Kathleen, Skolny, Melissa N., Swaroop, Meyha N., Elliott, Krista N., Ferguson, Chantal M., Miller, Cynthia L., Jammallo, Lauren S., Weinberg, Ido, Schainfeld, Robert M., Jaff, Michael R., Taghian, Alphonse G.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The pathophysiology of cording (visible bands of tissue that can form in the ipsilateral axilla and arm following breast cancer surgery) remains equivocal. Cording can be a painful and functionally limiting condition. Our aim was to assess the role of duplex ultrasonographic imaging as a diagnostic tool for assessment of this condition. We evaluated five women who had undergone surgery for unilateral breast cancer. Cording was identified by self-report and confirmed by physical examination. Duplex ultrasonography was performed within one week of the clinical diagnosis of cording. Duplex ultrasonography failed to identify the cording structures and does not appear to be a useful diagnostic tool for determining the pathophysiology of cording following treatment for breast cancer. Research focusing on intervention strategies to facilitate the clinical resolution of cording following breast cancer surgery is needed.
ISSN:8756-4793
1552-5430
DOI:10.1177/8756479315599540