Malignant lymphedema is an accumulation of interstitial fluid caused by tumour infiltration or compression of lymphatic vessels. Our objective is to describe self-management strategies for malignant lymphedema using a case report. A 50-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was referred to our centre with a 3-month history of unexplained left-arm edema, subsequently diagnosed as malignant lymphedema caused by tumour compression of the axillary lymph nodes. She undertook a physiotherapist-guided, modified lymphedema treatment programme, with self-management interventions including self-bandaging and exercise. Limb volumes and leisure exercise levels were measured over a 1-year period. Data were collected from her follow-up visit 4 years post-diagnosis of lymphedema. Within the first month, the patient's excess limb volume reduced from 26.8% to 5.9% and, 1 year later, remained stable at 3%. Over time, her exercise levels increased (1-year follow-up: 33.5 MET-hours per week). At 4 years, her excess limb volume was 9.7%, and exercise levels were at 36 MET-hours per week. A woman with moderate malignant arm lymphedema caused by advanced breast cancer successfully adhered to a guided self-management programme and benefited from reduced swelling and improved self-reported physical function in the long term. This case provides oncology health professionals with knowledge about self-management options for malignant lymphedema.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6158562 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2016-94 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Facial Lymphedema Following Head and Neck Tumor Resection: Preliminary Experience of Supermicrosurgical Treatment With LVA-Report of Three Cases.
Microsurgery
January 2025
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Facial lymphedema (FL) is a potential complication following head-and-neck tumor (HNT) therapy. Conservative management is often difficult, and there is limited literature on surgical treatments for FL. This report presents three cases of FL treated with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFF-FDG PET/CT in lymphangiosarcoma: A case report and review of literature.
Asia Ocean J Nucl Med Biol
January 2025
Department of Nuclear medicine, Dr Rajendra Prasad government medical college, India.
Objectives: Lymphangiosarcoma is a rare tumor that affects the upper limbs of patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery, including axillary dissection, followed by radiation therapy (RT) to the axilla and has a poor prognosis. F-FDG PET/CT may enable the earlier detection of malignant transformation in a setting of chronic lymphedema and help evaluate the extent and staging of the tumor, allowing earlier initiation of treatment options.
Case Presentation: We herein report a case of cutaneous lymphangiosarcoma in a 47-year-old breast carcinoma patient, which occurred 9 years after initial surgery and radiation therapy.
Single-Port Three-Dimensional Endoscopic-Assisted Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (S-P 3D E-ALND): Surgical Technique and Preliminary Results.
Breast J
January 2025
Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Article Synopsis
- Endoscopic-assisted breast surgery (EABS) offers better cosmetic results for breast cancer patients, but traditional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) requires larger incisions and more retraction.
- The proposed single-port three-dimensional endoscopic-assisted ALND (S-P 3D E-ALND) uses a minimally invasive technique with high success rates and improved visualization, analyzed from a study of 11 patients.
- Preliminary results show 100% success without open surgery conversion, short operative times, minimal blood loss, and no significant complications over a median follow-up of 7 months, suggesting that S-P 3D E-ALND is a viable alternative for ALND.
Supraclavicular Irradiation Induces Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Axillary Lymph Node Dissection and Taxane-Containing Chemotherapy.
Breast J
January 2025
Department of Breast Oncology Aichi Cancer Center, 1-1, Kanokoden, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8681, Aichi, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- Breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) negatively affects quality of life, with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and postoperative docetaxel (DTX) being significant risk factors.
- Among 214 patients studied, 24% developed objective LE, with supraclavicular irradiation identified as a key risk factor, more so when combined with taxane chemotherapy.
- The findings highlight the need for careful management of LE in patients undergoing both taxane-based treatments and supraclavicular radiation therapy.
Flat Aesthetic Mastectomy Closure with the Angel Wing Technique to Address Lateral Adiposity: Technique and Outcome Analysis.
Breast J
January 2025
Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Article Synopsis
- The introduction discusses challenges in achieving flat closure during oncologic mastectomy in obese patients and introduces the angel wing (AW) technique as a solution.
- A retrospective study at an academic center evaluated the safety of the AW technique by analyzing postoperative arm lymphedema (AL) and decreased range of motion (dROM) in patients who underwent mastectomy with and without this technique.
- Results showed no significant difference in the incidence of AL or dROM between the AW and non-AW groups, suggesting that the AW technique is a safe option for achieving effective surgical outcomes in obese patients postmastectomy.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!