The National Lymphoedema Framework Project originated from an epidemiology study (Moffatt et al, 2003) carried out in South West London, which identified that lymphoedema is a significant but unrecognised problem. Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling arising from the accumulation of protein-rich fluid that would otherwise drain via the lymphatic system. It can be grossly disfiguring, and is associated with cancer and its treatment, particularly breast cancer, but it can occur for other reasons, such as trauma or parasitic infection, or it may be primary in origin (Fig 1). The main aim of the project is to provide sufficient evidence to persuade policy-makers that lymphoedema is a major problem that is currently under-resourced and for which national guidance for management is required.
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BMJ Open
December 2024
School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Introduction: Given the projected rise in the incidence of cancer treatment-related conditions, such as lymphoedema, and the limited research on lymphoedema in cancers with poor prognoses, there is a need for a better understanding of cancer-related lymphoedema incidence and associated risk factors across all types of cancers. The objectives of this review are (1) to produce a resource on an open-access platform that facilitates continuous update of incidence estimates and risk factors as evidence emerges, (2) to provide the most up-to-date estimate of the incidence of cancer-related lymphoedema and (3) to evaluate the strength and consistency of the association between lymphoedema and cancer treatment and non-treatment-related risk factors.
Methods And Analysis: A living systematic and grey literature search will be conducted to identify studies reporting the incidence, prevalence of lymphoedema or associated risk factors in individuals who have undergone treatment for any type of cancer.
Introduction: Lymphoedema is a distressing and long-term complication for breast cancer survivors. However, the reported incidence of lymphoedema varies, and its risk factors remain underexplored. Currently, a well-established risk prediction model is still lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLymphat Res Biol
January 2025
Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.
Current understanding of changes in fluid distribution in response to the application of compression in primary lymphedema (PLE) is limited. This study measured fluid distribution before and after one application of standardized intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in the lower limbs of people with PLE, compared with those without lymphedema. High-frequency ultrasound (HFU) was used to measure dermal fluid, bioimpedance to measure segmental fluid, and percent water content (PWC) to measure fluid at specific anatomical points.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHead Neck
January 2025
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background: Quantifying head and neck lymphedema and fibrosis (HN-LEF) is crucial in the investigation and management of treatment sequelae in head and neck cancer (HNC).
Methods: The T1- and T2-weighted MRI signal intensity (SI) was examined in relation to HN-LEF categories per physical/tactile examination (No-LEF, A-B = edema, C = edema + fibrosis, D = fibrosis), and MRI structural volumes were examined in relation to a novel 10-point HN-LEF score in the intraoral and submental regions.
Results: We identified differences in ranks among HN-LEF categories in relation to the MRI SI (A-B and C are higher than D and No-LEF for T2 SI, and A-B is the highest for T1).
Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Female Cancer Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:
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