Lymphedema is a condition characterized by tissue swelling caused by localized fluid retention. Advanced lymphedema is characterized by irreversible skin fibrosis (stage IIIb) and nonpitting edema, with leather-like skin, skin crypts, and ulcers with or without involvement of the toes (stage IVa and IVb, respectively). Recently, surgical treatment of advanced lymphedema has been a challenging r...

BACKGROUND Restoring the continuity of lymphatic drainage by lymphaticovenous or lymphaticolymphatic anastomosis was observed in the short term to be patent but eventually occluded because the elevated interstitial pressure will cause obliteration of these tiny, thin-walled, low-pressure lumens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of vascularized groin lymph node transfer usin...

The cycle time and number of chambers in the pneumatic sleeve may influence the outcome of lymphedema therapy with intermittent compression devices. The aim of our study was to assess efficacy of several commonly used different IPC protocols on edema volume reduction in women with postmastectomy lymphedema. Fixty-seven (57) women with secondary arm lymphedema (age 39-80) were selected to the st...

Breast cancer-related upper limb lymphoedema (BCRL) affects approximately 20 % of women undergoing axillary intervention. Women who attended a "reducing your risk of lymphoedema" class, including exercise instruction, anecdotally reported positive BCRL outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine BCRL outcomes and perceived benefit for attendees at a "reducing your risk of lymphoedema" class ...

Axillary lymph node dissection represents the standard surgical treatment for breast cancer patients with clinically or histologically involved axillary lymph nodes. However, it is associated with significant morbidity, including postoperative arm lymphedema and neuropathy of the involved extremity, and seroma formation in the axilla (Noguchi et al., 1997). Particularly, arm lymphedema develops...

Stewart-treves syndrome (SST), also known as cutaneous angiosarcoma, is a rare and extremely serious complication of chronic lymphedema. Diagnosis is based on histology and immunohistochemistry. Treatment is primarily surgical. This syndrome occurs in 90% of cases after breast surgery. However, it can sometimes occur from other causes, as illustrated in our case study. The prognosis of Stewart-...

A 30-year-old woman with a history of chronic congenital lymphedema and overgrowth of the right upper extremity presented with a visibly inflamed, reddened, nodular, palpable mass arising from the skin on the dorsal aspect of her right forearm of 9 months duration. The patient described the initial appearance as three small pimples on the skin of the forearm that coalesced and became larger. Th...

However, there are concerns regarding donor site morbidity following LNF harvest. Also, some observations have been made with regards of the effect of LNF on areas of the extremity away from the transferred flap. Herein, we describe the extended right gastroepiploic lymph node flap (RGE-LNF) 3 via laparoscopic approach with a double level flap inset for patients with upper and lower limb lymphe...

53 year old female developed lower extremity lymphedema following a CVA Right sided hemiparesis, decreased range of motion and decreased strength in the right lower extremity, and increased tone and spasticity throughout the right upper and lower extremity Decreased strength, impaired balance (Tinetti), and increased limb heaviness affected her ambulation and ADL’s Interventions Complete Dec...

OBJECTIVE Vascularized groin lymph node flaps have been successfully transferred to the wrist to treat postmastecomy upper limb lymphedema. This study investigated the anatomy, mechanism and outcome of a novel vascularized submental lymph node (VSLN) flap transfer for the treatment of lower limb lymphedema. METHODS Bilateral regional submental flaps were dissected from three fresh adult cadav...