title: Incidence and risk factors for lower limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer surgery with initiation of periodic complex decongestive physiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for gynecologic cancer. LLL often impairs quality of life, activities of daily living, sleep, and sex in patients with gynecologic cancer. We conducted this study to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for LLL after gynecologic cancer surgery in patients who received assessment and periodic complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 126 cases of gynecologic cancer that underwent surgery involving retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy at Tottori University Hospital between 2009 and 2012. All patients received physical examinations to detect LLL and underwent CDP by nurse specialists within several months after surgery. The International Society of Lymphology staging of lymphedema severity was used as the diagnostic criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 126 patients, 57 (45.2%) had LLL, comprising 45 and 12 patients with stage 1 and stage 2 LLL, respectively. No patient had stage 3 LLL. LLL was present in 37 (29.4%) patients at the initial physical examination. Multivariate analysis revealed that adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy and age ≥ 55 years were independent risk factors for ≥ stage 2 LLL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To minimize the incidence of ≥ stage 2 LLL, gynecologic oncologists should be vigilant for this condition in patients who are ≥ 55 years and in those who undergo adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Patients should be advised to have a physical assessment for LLL and to receive education about CDP immediately after surgery involving retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for gynecologic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan, imari@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Imari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deura
authors.forename: Muneaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirashita
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.forename: Seiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itamochi
authors.forename: Tasuku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kigawa
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors