Open AccessCombined physiologic and excisional therapies improve cancer‐related lymphedema outcomes
Author(s) -
Fillon Mike
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ca: a cancer journal for clinicians
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 62.937
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1542-4863
pISSN - 0007-9235
DOI - 10.3322/caac.21427
Subject(s) - lymphedema , medicine , stage (stratigraphy) , surgery , cancer , oncology , breast cancer , paleontology , biology
Key Points Treating lymphedema with VLNT followed by SAL may be more effective than using either procedure alone. Prior to treatment, patients reported an average of 1.8 infectious episodes but only 1 patient had a single episode after VLNT and prior to SAL. In addition to the near‐complete reduction in the excess limb size and the absence of infections after the second stage of the treatment, patients were able to maintain these favorable outcomes at an average follow‐up of 23.5 months.