Mapping and Quantifying Lymphatic Drainage of the Arm's Alternate Pathway

Variable Anatomy and Function of the Arm's Alternate Lymphatic Pathway

Using indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT imaging, the aim is to evaluate the anatomy of the lymphatic system pathway in two separate populations: healthy female volunteers and women with a history of breast cancer who did not develop lymphedema.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Lymphatic System

Detailed Description

Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) affects 1.2 million patients in the United States and has no cure. The symptoms of lymphedema include fatigue, tightness, pain, and life-threatening infections. However, two-thirds of women undergoing breast cancer treatment with the highest risk factors for developing lymphedema do not develop the disease. While there is no explanation for this finding, one hypothesis is that normal anatomic variations of the lymphatic system pre-dispose certain women to developing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. Specifically, the main back-up lymphatic pathway of the arm, the Mascagni-Sappey (M-S) pathway, is variably present in cadaver studies and avoids areas that are usually damaged with breast cancer treatment. Moreover, when present in these cadaver studies, the M-S pathway has variable anatomic connections which can impact its ability to drain the arm effectively. The investigators hypothesize that, utilizing modern imaging techniques, the investigators can define the anatomy of the M-S pathway and its variations in normal women and in breast cancer survivors who have undergone high risk breast cancer treatment and did not develop lymphedema. Utilizing this information, the investigators will be able to predict which variations predispose women to develop lymphedema. Finally, the investigators will develop a novel method of non-invasive intraoperative optical imaging to assess the function of this pathway during breast cancer operations to predict the patient's risk of developing lymphedema. The ability to evaluate real-time lymphatic function would allow cancer teams to implement preventive interventions in high risk patients. As the most common cause of lymphedema in the United States is secondary to cancer procedures, this model of lymphedema prevention could be widely applied to the treatment of other high risk cancer populations including gynecologic cancers, urologic cancers, skin cancers, and sarcomas.

The investigators will use ICG lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT (single-photon emission computed tomography) imaging to evaluate the anatomy of the M-S pathway in two separate populations:

Group 1: The research study staff will recruit healthy female volunteers without a history of lymphedema or ALND (axillary lymph node dissection) surgery to map the normal anatomy of the M-S pathway. The investigators hope to quantify the percentage of women who do not have this pathway present, do not have peripheral connections between the M-S pathway and the forearm, and/or whose terminal M-S pathway draining nodal basins are in the axilla.

Group 2: Research study staff will measure changes that occur in the M-S pathway anatomy in women at least 2 years status-post ALND surgery without developing lymphedema in the time following their surgery (Aim 2) using the same methodology. By understanding the M-S pathway anatomy in relation to the main lymphatic drainage pathway of the forearm in the setting of an ALND without lymphedema the investigators can gain critical insight about which patients are at the highest risk of developing BCRL and why this is more likely to occur in some patients than others.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 142

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Angela Chen, BS; Phone Number: 6176327043; Email: achen22@bidmc.harvard.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • Recruiting
      • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
      • Contact: Dhruv Singhal, MD; Phone Number: 617-632-7855

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women with a history of breast cancer treatment including axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) more than 2 years prior to study participation, who did not develop lymphedema.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• History of breast cancer treatment including ALND - defined by removal of >=10 lymph nodes - more than 2 years before study participation
• Ability to understand the protocol and willingness to participate
• At least 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior history of bilateral lymph node surgery
• Prior history of other surgical procedures of the affected upper extremity besides the axillary management for breast cancer treatment
• Prior history of chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
• Prior history of filarial infections
• Prior history of lymphedema
• Patient-reported pregnancy
• Patients who are breastfeeding
• Iodine allergy
• Prior history of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis
• Prior history of congestive heart failure
• Prior history of venous thoracic outlet syndrome
• Current active cancer

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Healthy volunteers; Healthy female volunteers with no history of lymphedema. Physical therapy examination, ICG lymphography, venous ultrasound and lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT imaging
Women with breast cancer who did not develop lymphedema; Women who have had an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and did not develop lymphedema. Physical therapy examination, ICG lymphography, venous ultrasound and lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT imaging

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity	Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 1: Immediately after ICG lymphography injections
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity	Lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 1: 30 min after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity	Lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 1: 2 hours after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity (SPECT/CT)	SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 1: 2 hours after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity	Lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 2: 30 min after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity	Lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 2: 2 hours after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection
Lymphatic pathway anatomy of the upper extremity (SPECT/CT)	SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy scans of bilateral upper arms	Study Visit 2: 2 hours after lymphoscintigraphy tracer injection

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dhruv Singhal, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 23, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: lymphatic system; anatomy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021P000209; 1R01HL157991-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No