Table 1.

Criteria for breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) staging.

	Defining clinical characteristics of BCRL in patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection with/without radiation therapy
Stage 0	No observable lymphedema as defined by less than 2 cm difference in arm circumference between the involved and uninvolved arms.
Stage 1	Reversible lymphedema defined as greater than 2 cm difference in arm circumference between the involved and uninvolved arms. Other criteria: Fibrosis: none or minimal; Pitting: pits on pressure; Elevation: reduces edema; Skin: no change
Stage 2	Stage I criteria with Fibrosis: moderate; Pitting: may be present; Elevation: does not fully reduce edema (minimal to no reduction); Skin: no change
Stage 3	The tissue is hard (fibrotic) and pitting is absent. Skin changes such as thickening, hyperpigmentation, increased skin folds, fat deposits and warty overgrowths develop