Lymphedema Support Centre of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation at the MUHC, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Med Oncol. 2024 Sep 17;41(10):245. doi: 10.1007/s12032-024-02441-2.
Cancer-related lymphedema (CRL) lacks internationally accepted definition and diagnostic criteria. The accurate incidence of CRL is therefore a challenge and the condition is likely underreported. Patients treated for cancer can develop CRL as a result of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, which can lead to considerable psychosocial and physical morbidity, and decreased quality of life. Determining CRL incidence is crucial to inform care access and resource allocation, to best support patients affected by this lifelong condition. This review aimed to provide the latest CRL incidence estimates. Using four core databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library), a literature search was performed to capture publications dated between 2015 and 2023. A total of 48 articles (33 prospective studies, 15 systematic reviews) met inclusion criteria, providing a sample size of 234,079 cancer patients. Findings revealed CRL incidence across cancer types varied, reported 2-74% in breast, 8-45% in gynecological and urological, 71-90% in head and neck and 2-29% in melanoma cancers. CRL incidence varied between 3 and 21% in preventative lymphedema surgery patients. Projected increases in cancer incidence and improved survival rates are expected to further escalate CRL incidence. Healthcare systems and professionals alike must therefore prepare to meet the growing needs of CRL patients.
癌症相关淋巴水肿（CRL）缺乏国际公认的定义和诊断标准。因此，准确的 CRL 发病率是一个挑战，而且该病症很可能被低估。接受癌症治疗的患者可能会因手术、化疗和/或放疗而患上 CRL，这可能导致相当大的心理社会和身体发病率，并降低生活质量。确定 CRL 的发病率对于告知护理机会和资源分配至关重要，以便最好地支持受这种终身疾病影响的患者。本综述旨在提供最新的 CRL 发病率估计。使用四个核心数据库（MEDLINE、Embase、Web of Science Core Collection、Cochrane Library），进行了文献检索，以获取 2015 年至 2023 年期间发表的出版物。共有 48 篇文章（33 项前瞻性研究，15 项系统评价）符合纳入标准，提供了 234,079 名癌症患者的样本量。研究结果显示，不同癌症类型的 CRL 发病率不同，乳腺癌为 2-74%，妇科和泌尿科为 8-45%，头颈部为 71-90%，黑色素瘤为 2-29%。预防性淋巴水肿手术患者的 CRL 发病率在 3-21%之间。预计癌症发病率的增加和生存率的提高将进一步加剧 CRL 的发病率。因此，医疗保健系统和专业人员必须准备好满足 CRL 患者不断增长的需求。
