Complete Reduction of Arm Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer - A Prospective Twenty-One Years' Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic non-pitting lymphedema do not respond to conservative treatment because diminished lymph flow and inflammation result in the formation of excess subcutaneous adipose tissue. Previous surgical treatments utilizing either total excision with skin grafting or reduction plasty seldom achieved acceptable cosmetic and functional results. Microsurgical reconstructions, although attractive as a physiological concept, cannot provide complete reduction in chronic non-pitting lymphedema because they do not eliminate the newly formed subcutaneous adipose tissue collections. To remove the excess adipose seems thus to be a logical treatment strategy. This prospective study describes the long-term outcome of liposuction of lymphedema.