Surgical Intervention for Lymphedema

Kristalyn Gallagher; Kathleen Marulanda; Stephanie Gray

doi:10.1016/j.soc.2017.08.001

Surgical Intervention for Lymphedema

Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2018 Jan;27(1):195-215. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2017.08.001.

Authors

Kristalyn Gallagher¹, Kathleen Marulanda², Stephanie Gray²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7213, 1150 POB, 170 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7123, USA. Electronic address: Kristalyn_gallagher@med.unc.edu.
² Department of Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7213, 1150 POB, 170 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7123, USA.

PMID: 29132561
DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2017.08.001

Abstract

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive disease with no curative treatment. Breast cancer therapy is the most common cause of secondary lymphedema in the developed world. Treatment includes nonsurgical and surgical strategies. Conservative measures are reserved for subclinical lymphedema. Surgical options are divided into physiologic (to restore function) and reductive (to remove diseased tissue). Early stage disease is managed with physiologic procedures. Reductive treatment is reserved for moderate to severe staged disease owing to high morbidity. Surgical options effectively decrease edema and improve quality of life. However, further research is necessary to best establish management of lymphedema.

Keywords: Axillary reverse mapping; LYMPHA; Liposuction; Lymph node transfer; Lymphedema; Lymphovenous anastomosis; Surgery; Vascularized lymph node transfer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes / surgery
Lymphedema / etiology
Lymphedema / surgery*
Male