BACKGROUND Early detection and multimodality therapy has resulted in an overall improvement of survival among breast cancer patients. Despite a significant shift in the treatment approach from radical mastectomy to breast conservation a significant number of patients develop lymphedema. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for development of lymphedema. SETTING...

BACKGROUND Lymphedema management programs have been shown to decrease episodes of adenolymphangitis (ADLA), but the impact on lymphedema progression and of program compliance have not been thoroughly explored. Our objectives were to determine the rate of ADLA episodes and lymphedema progression over time for patients enrolled in a community-based lymphedema management program. We explored the a...

Hereditary lymphedemas are developmental disorders of the lymphatics resulting in edema of the extremities due to altered lymphatic flow. One such disorder, the lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, has been reported to be caused by mutations in the forkhead transcription factor, FOXC2. We sequenced the FOXC2 gene in 86 lymphedema families to identify mutations. Eleven families were identified with...

ReSultS: The study included 228 patients. Lymphedema was diagnosed clinically in 170 subjects and confirmed by lymphoscintigraphy in 162 (117 primary lymphedema, 45 secondary); 58 patients were thought to have a condition other than lymphedema and all had negative lymphoscintigrams (95% sensitivity, 100% specificity). A subgroup analysis of the 8 patients with clinical lymphedema but negative l...

BACKGROUND Lymphedema may be identified by simpler circumference changes as compared with changes in limb volume. METHODS Ninety breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled in an academic trial, and seven upper extremity circumferences were measured quarterly for 3 years. A 10% volume increase or greater than 1 cm increase in arm circumference identified lymphedema with verification by...

BACKGROUND Prolongation of survival in patients with breast cancer due to early diagnosis and modern methods of treatment has turned the attention on lymphedema, which is the most important morbidity secondary to the treatment of the disease. Determination of lymphedema and related risk factors in patients before a surgical intervention may provide protection for patients and early treatment. T...

Treatment of chronic illness accounts for over 90 % of Medicare spending. Chronic lymphedema places over 3 million Americans at risk of recurrent cellulitis. Health insurers and legislators have taken an active role in fighting attempts to mandate the treatment of lymphedema for fear that provision of the physical therapy and compression materials would result in large and uncontrollable claim ...

The characteristics of lymphedema on radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy were studied, and the diagnostic value of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy in lymphedema was evaluated. In this report radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 110 cases of clinically suspected lymphedema. A retrospective study method was used to analyze the imaging results. The typical pattern of lymphedema on radionuc...

The aim of the present study was to report a case series involving the treatment of primary congenital lymphedema using the Godoy method. Eight children (seven girls and one boy) with primary congenital lymphedema of the upper limbs treated at the Godoy Clinic. A retrospective clinical trial was conducted to evaluate treatment for primary congenital l...

We have created a human chromosomal map of the location known and candidate genes involved in primary lymphedema (PLE). This should facilitate further discovery provide basis for understanding microdeletions which cause lymphedema.