Portable 3D scanning for upper and lower limb lymphedema: Posture optimization and clinical agreement with the circumferential method.

Abstract

To evaluate the agreement between portable 3D scanning and routine circumferential assessment for limb volume measurement in upper- and lower-limb lymphedema, and to provide a reusable posture-scanning standard operating procedure (SOP) and rapid circumferential volume calculator to facilitate standardized use in routine practice. This single-center prospective cross-sectional method-comparison study of 20 patients included 10 patients with upper-limb and 10 patients with lower-limb lymphedema undergoing same-visit limb volumetry via circumferential tape and portable 3D scanning (Revopoint Miraco Plus®). Percent excess volume (Δ-3D%, Δ-circ%) was computed for each method, and agreement was assessed using the Bland-Altman analysis of the difference (Δ-3D% - Δ-circ%, percentage points), plus correlation and linear regression. The clinic SOP specified seated upper-limb scanning with the arm raised, standing lower-limb scanning with chest up and legs apart, a 360° helical sweep with 10-15% overlap, real-time quality control (mesh defect <3%), and a Revo Scan 5→Blender post-processing pipeline. First-pass usable scans were obtained in 17 of 20 limbs. Δ-3D% closely tracked Δ-circ% (r ≈ 0.99; slopes approximately 1), with a small overall bias of -1.88% points. Sixteen of the 20 limbs were within the prespecified margins, including 7 of 10 upper limbs and 9 of 10 lower limbs. A rapid circumferential volume calculator and supplementary instructional video were also developed. A standardized posture-trajectory SOP enabled feasible and clinic-ready portable 3D scanning, with acceptable agreement with circumferential volumetry and practical outpatient operability.