BACKGROUND

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most significant survivorship issues in breast cancer management. Presently, there is no cure for BCRL. The single greatest risk factor for developing BCRL is an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventative Healing Approach (LYMPHA) is a surgical procedure to reduce the risk of lymphedema in patients undergoing an ALND. We present our single institution results after offering LYMPHA in the context of an established lymphedema surveillance program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of our lymphedema surveillance program at the University of Florida was performed over a 2-year period (March 2014-March 2016). LYMPHA was offered to patients undergoing ALND beginning in March 2015. Patients who developed lymphedema were compared with those who did not. Demographics and potential risk factors for development of lymphedema such as age, body mass index, clinical stage, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were reviewed.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients participated in the surveillance program over the study period with an average age of 60 y (range 32-83) and body mass index of 30 kg/m (range 17-46). The single most significant risk factor for the development for lymphedema was an ALND (P < 0.001). One of 67 patients undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy developed lymphedema (1.5%). Four of 10 patients who underwent an ALND alone developed lymphedema (40%). One of 8 patients in the ALND + LYMPHA group developed transient lymphedema (12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Offering LYMPHA with ALND decreased our institutional rate of lymphedema from 40% to 12.5%. Long-term follow-up and randomized control trials are necessary to further elucidate the promise of this surgical technique to reduce the incidence of BCRL.