OBJECTIVE Lymphoedema is a common sequela of cancer or its treatment that affects lymph node drainage. The physiotherapist, as member of the multiprofessional team in palliative care, is one of the keys to successful rehabilitation and management of patients with cancer and non-malignant motoneuron disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and palliative care needs. The aim of the study was...

Idiopathic primary lymphoedema (‘swollen legs’) and secondary lymphoedema following trauma or infection (e.g. wound oedema or phlegmon/cellulitis) are frequently encountered problems in equine veterinary practice. At present, therapy of these diseases is often based on symptomatic and empirical treatment, using NSAIDs, antibiotics and compression bandages (Fig 1). Less consideration is given to...

The immediate complications of axillary node surgery are relatively insignificant. It is very uncommon for any patient to sustain serious injuries such as brachial plexus nerve or axillary vein injury, and although seroma formation is a very frequent occurrence it is well tolerated and is rarely prolonged. Delayed complications and long-term morbidity are by contrast commonplace and impact on t...

Lymphangiosarcoma in dogs, an extremely rare tumour with only 16 cases reported in the literature, is reviewed. Lymphangiosarcoma in humans, also very rare, and known in post-mastectomy, chronically-lymphoedematous patients as 'Stewart-Treves' syndrome, is briefly outlined, as well as the various other causes of lymphoedema, both primary and secondary, which usually precede malignancy. Comparis...

Lymphoedema is a much under-publicised condition, yet it affects many people. Janice Bianchi and Marie Todd outline the implications of the condition and examine the treatment options of a typical case study.

1 of 2 DESCRIPTION Lymphoedema is an abnormal collection of interstitial lymph fl uid due to either congenital maldevelopment of the lymphatics or secondary obstruction. Primary penile lymphoedema is a rare occurrence. Its incidence account for approximately 1:60,000 live births. 1 Generally it involves the lower limbs, but rarely the genitalia. 2 3 We report a case of primary isolated penile l...

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of manual and mechanical lymph drainage on the bioelectrical composition of body tissues of patients with lymphoedema of the lower limbs. METHOD Twenty-one patients with lymphoedema of one leg were evaluated using single frequency bioelectrical impedance with four electrodes (SF-BIA4) immediately before and after a combination of manual...

Piezo1 ion channels are mediators of mechanotransduction in several cell types including the vascular endothelium, renal tubular cells and erythrocytes. Gain-of-function mutations in PIEZO1 cause an autosomal dominant haemolytic anaemia in humans called dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis. However, the phenotypic consequence of PIEZO1 loss of function in humans has not previously been document...

PURPOSE The aim of this feasibility study was to examine the use of reflexology lymphatic drainage (RLD) in the treatment of breast-cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL) with a view to further research. METHODS An uncontrolled trial was conducted with 26 women who had developed lymphoedema in one arm following treatment for breast cancer. Changes in upper-limb volumes and in participant concerns ...

Lymphoedema is a life-long disease which may be improved but not healed by our therapy. Therefore it seems to be desirable to ascertain the clinical suspicion of lymphoedema or to rule out this diagnosis at least once in the life of a patient suffering from chronic swelling of the extremities. The most appropriate methods for that purpose are lymphoscintigraphy and indirect lymphography. Radion...