Guideline key questions and outcomes by category
| Relevant guideline category | Primary area of focus | Rationale | Primary outcome of interest and rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | What valid and reliable tests can assist with a clinical diagnosis of BCRL? | Guidance is lacking on best methods for early identification of BCRL | Sensitivity and specificity (30) |
| Prevention and risk reduction | What is the evidence supporting the benefit of prevention and risk reduction strategies? | Controversies exist over many of the recommended prevention and risk reduction strategies | Incidence rates: presented as percentages, fractions or simple frequencies (31) |
| Effective management | What is the state of the evidence supporting conservative, pharmacologic and surgical management of BCRL? | Inconsistencies are found across guideline recommendations and grades of evidence for best-practice management of BCRL | Arm lymphedema volume was chosen as this metric is used clinically for decisions related to treatment (32) |
| Measurement outcomes | What metrics need to be captured to inform ongoing care of BCRL over the longer term? | Guidance is lacking on best practices related to follow-up and surveillance of chronic BCRL | Valid, reliable and sensitive methods (33) |
Note: BCRL = breast cancer–related lymphedema.