title: Functional lymphatic collectors in breast cancer-related lymphedema arm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathophysiology of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is poorly understood. The present study evaluated the lymphatic collectors in the arms of patients with BCRL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 123 patients with ipsilateral BCRL who had undergone magnetic resonance lymphangiography using gadobenate dimeglumine as a contrast agent were enrolled in this study. Morphological changes and the numbers of collecting lymphatic vessels were recorded. Associations between the number of visualized lymphatic collectors and edema accumulation, subcutis thickness, and the BCRL duration and latency were analyzed. Tortuous and significantly dilated lymphatic collectors were visualized in the lymphedematous arms of 104 patients (85%). The median number of visualized lymphatic collectors was four. The duration of BCRL was weakly but significantly correlated with the number of lymphatic collectors (rs=0.2054, p=0.0226). The differences in the tissue water content and thickness of the subcutis between the bilateral arms demonstrated moderate correlations with the number of collecting lymphatics (rs=0.31 and 0.35, respectively; p<0.01). More lymphatic collectors tended to be seen in more advanced cases. There was no statistical difference in the amount of lymphatic vessels among different breast cancer treatment methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of functional remaining lymphatic collectors increases with the prolongation and severity of BCRL. This may imply persistent reactions of lymphatic collectors in response to lymphostasis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .
authors.forename: Ning-fei
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bing-shun
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000473:pathology*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008220:Lymphography; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine