HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE COVER ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a letter to the editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Petrek, J. A. Articles by Smith, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Petrek, J. A. Articles by Smith, R. A.

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 50, Issue 5 292-307, Copyright © 2000 by American Cancer Society

ARTICLES

Lymphedema: current issues in research and management

J. A. Petrek, P. I. Pressman and R. A. Smith
Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, NY, USA.

Lymphedema is a common and troublesome problem that can develop following breast cancer treatment. As with other quality-of-life and nonlethal conditions, it receives less research funding and attention than do many other areas of study. In 1998, an invited workshop sponsored by the American Cancer Society reviewed and evaluated the current state of knowledge about lymphedema. Recommendations and research initiatives proposed by the 60 international participants are presented in the conclusion section of the article, following a summary of current knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, detection, and current treatment of lymphedema. The etiology of lymphedema is multifaceted; all of the factors that contribute to the condition and the nature of their interaction have not yet been identified. To compound the problem, methods of assessing the degree of arm and hand swelling vary and are not agreed upon, and reliable methods of assessing the functional impact of lymphedema have not yet been developed. In the absence of a cure for lymphedema, precautions and prevention are emphasized. Current treatments include elevation, elastic garments, pneumatic compression pumps, and complete decongestive therapy; surgical and medical techniques remain controversial. Elements and details of these treatments are described.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. D. Paskett, M. J. Naughton, T. P. McCoy, L. D. Case, and J. M. Abbott The Epidemiology of Arm and Hand Swelling in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2007; 16(4): 775 - 782. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Moseley, C. Carati, and N. Piller A systematic review of common conservative therapies for arm lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer treatment Ann. Onc., April 1, 2007; 18(4): 639 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Bicego, K. Brown, M. Ruddick, D. Storey, C. Wong, and S. R Harris Exercise for Women With or at Risk for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Physical Therapy, October 1, 2006; 86(10): 1398 - 1405. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Ahmed, W. Thomas, D. Yee, and K. H. Schmitz Randomized Controlled Trial of Weight Training and Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Survivors J. Clin. Oncol., June 20, 2006; 24(18): 2765 - 2772. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Sweeney, K. H. Schmitz, D. Lazovich, B. A. Virnig, R. B. Wallace, and A. R. Folsom Functional limitations in elderly female cancer survivors. J Natl Cancer Inst, April 19, 2006; 98(8): 521 - 529. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Taylor, U. W Jayasinghe, L. Koelmeyer, O. Ung, and J. Boyages Reliability and Validity of Arm Volume Measurements for Assessment of Lymphedema Physical Therapy, February 1, 2006; 86(2): 205 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P Sander, N. M Hajer, K. Hemenway, and A. C Miller Upper-Extremity Volume Measurements in Women With Lymphedema: A Comparison of Measurements Obtained Via Water Displacement With Geometrically Determined Volume Physical Therapy, December 1, 2002; 82(12): 1201 - 1212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]