TY - JOUR
T1 - Overview of surgical treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema
AU - Suami, Hiroo
AU - Chang, David W.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - Breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema is an unsolved iatrogenic complication with a reported incidence ranging from 9 to 41 percent. The increase in volume and recurrent cellulitis of the affected limb cause both physical and mental distress to many breast cancer survivors. However, postmastectomy lymphedema has received little attention, and no curative treatment is available. Conservative treatment with decongestive therapy has been the primary choice for lymphedema treatment, but it is cumbersome and has limited benefits. To date, there is no consensus on surgical procedure and protocol. However, refinements in microsurgical techniques and improved examination devices may lead to the establishment of a standard surgical treatment for lymphedema. This review of surgical procedures for the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema focuses on microsurgical lymphovenous shunt operations and discusses current issues in surgical treatment and the need for uniform treatment standards.
AB - Breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema is an unsolved iatrogenic complication with a reported incidence ranging from 9 to 41 percent. The increase in volume and recurrent cellulitis of the affected limb cause both physical and mental distress to many breast cancer survivors. However, postmastectomy lymphedema has received little attention, and no curative treatment is available. Conservative treatment with decongestive therapy has been the primary choice for lymphedema treatment, but it is cumbersome and has limited benefits. To date, there is no consensus on surgical procedure and protocol. However, refinements in microsurgical techniques and improved examination devices may lead to the establishment of a standard surgical treatment for lymphedema. This review of surgical procedures for the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema focuses on microsurgical lymphovenous shunt operations and discusses current issues in surgical treatment and the need for uniform treatment standards.
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U2 - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181f44658
DO - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181f44658
M3 - Article
C2 - 21124127
AN - SCOPUS:78650044483
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 126
SP - 1853
EP - 1863
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
JF - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
IS - 6
ER -