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Longitudinal monitoring of the head and neck lymphatics in response to surgery and radiation
Author(s) -
Rasmussen John C.,
Tan IChih,
Naqvi Syed,
Aldrich Melissa B.,
Maus Erik A.,
Blanco Angel I.,
Karni Ron J.,
Sevick–Muraca Eva M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24750
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , medicine , radiation therapy , lymphedema , lymph node , dissection (medical) , neck dissection , lymph , head and neck cancer , lymphatic vessel , surgery , radiology , cancer , pathology , metastasis , breast cancer
Background The lymphatic vasculature provides a route for cancer metastases, and its dysfunction after cancer treatment can result in lymphedema. However, changes in the lymphatics before, during, and after surgery and radiation remain unclear. Methods Near‐infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging was performed before and after lymph node dissection and fractionated radiotherapy to assess changes in external lymphatic function. Results Patients who underwent both lymph node dissection and radiotherapy developed lymphatic dermal backflow on treated sides ranging from days after the start of radiotherapy to weeks after its completion, whereas contralateral regions that were not associated with lymph node dissection but also treated with radiotherapy experienced no such changes in external lymphatic anatomies. Conclusion The external lymphatics undergo transient changes during and weeks after lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1177–1188, 2017