Lymphedema after treatment of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Lymphedema is one of the major long-term complications of axillary dissection. This study was designed to investigate the risk factors that are predicted to effect the development of lymphedema after complete axillary dissection. METHODS Two hundred forty patients who had undergone modified radical mastectomy with complete axillary dissection were examined at least 18 months after the surgery. The effects of age, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, tamoxifen use, stage, body mass index, number of the removed and metastatic lymph nodes, and total volume of the wound drainage on the development of lymphedema were analyzed. RESULTS Lymphedema developed in 68 (28%) of the 240 cases. Axillary radiotherapy and body mass index were found to increase the incidence of the lymphedema. CONCLUSIONS Women who had the combination of full axillary dissection and axillary radiotherapy carry a significant risk of lymphedema.