TY - JOUR
T1 - Breast cancer-related lymphedema: Recent updates on diagnosis, severity and available treatments
AU - Pappalardo, M.
AU - Starnoni, M.
AU - Franceschini, Gianluca
AU - Baccarani, A.
AU - De, Santis G.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a global healthcare issue affecting the emotional and life quality of breast cancer survivors significantly. The clinical presentation is characterized by swelling of the affected upper limb, that may be accompanied by atrophic skin findings, pain and recurrent cellulitis. Cardinal principles of lymphedema management are the use of complex decongestive therapy and patient education. Recently, new microsurgery procedures have been reported with interesting results, bringing in a new opportunity to care postmastectomy lymphedema. However, many aspects of the disease are still debated in the medical community, including clinical examination, imaging techniques, patient selection and proper treatment. Here we will review these aspects and the current literature.
AB - Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a global healthcare issue affecting the emotional and life quality of breast cancer survivors significantly. The clinical presentation is characterized by swelling of the affected upper limb, that may be accompanied by atrophic skin findings, pain and recurrent cellulitis. Cardinal principles of lymphedema management are the use of complex decongestive therapy and patient education. Recently, new microsurgery procedures have been reported with interesting results, bringing in a new opportunity to care postmastectomy lymphedema. However, many aspects of the disease are still debated in the medical community, including clinical examination, imaging techniques, patient selection and proper treatment. Here we will review these aspects and the current literature.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Lymphatic microsurgery
KW - Lymphaticovenous anastomosis
KW - Lymphedema
KW - Radiotherapy
KW - Vascularized lymph node transfer
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Lymphatic microsurgery
KW - Lymphaticovenous anastomosis
KW - Lymphedema
KW - Radiotherapy
KW - Vascularized lymph node transfer
UR - https://publicatt.unicatt.it/handle/10807/190446
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85106859631&origin=inward
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85106859631&origin=inward
U2 - 10.3390/jpm11050402
DO - 10.3390/jpm11050402
M3 - Article
SN - 2075-4426
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 16
JO - Journal of Personalized Medicine
JF - Journal of Personalized Medicine
IS - 5
ER -