Onkologie. 2009:3(1):32-35

Lymphedema - complication of complex breast cancer treatment

MUDr. Martin Wald

Chirurgická klinika UK 2. LF a FN Motol, Praha

Secondary lymphedema, a chronic and progressive disease, is a frequent complication in the complex treatment of breast cancer. The incidence

of lymphedema increases after radiotherapy, and its severity is also dependent on the extent of axillary lymph node dissection.

Lymphedema can affect all soft tissues which are drained by the respective axillary lymph nodes. The primary goal of the therapy

should be detection of the early stages of lymphedema, which are founded foremostly upon personal history, clinical examination, and

lymphoscintigraphy. Standard therapy involves Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT). Peroral administration of proteases can be used

as a one-drug-only therapy (monotherapy) in the early stages of disease. In later stages complicated by lipohypertrophy and fibrosis,

surgical treatment is the only rational treatment option (liposuction, debulking).

Keywords: secondary lymphedema, incidence, aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment.

Published: March 1, 2009  Show citation