title: Impact of lower limb lymphedema on quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of lower limb lymphedema (LLL) on quality of life (QOL) in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional case-control study was performed using the Korean version of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ-K) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). In total, 25 women with LLL and 28 women without LLL completed both questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GCLQ-K total symptom score and scores for swelling-general, swelling-limb, and heaviness were significantly higher in the LLL group than in the control group. In the EORTC QLQ-C30, the LLL group reported more financial difficulties compared to the control group (mean score, 16.0 vs. 6.0; P=0.035). Global health status was poorer in the LLL group with borderline statistical significance (mean score, 62.7 vs. 71.4; P=0.069). Spearman's correlations suggested that global health status in the EORTC QLQ-C30 correlated with the GCLQ-K total symptom score (in the LLL group, R=-0.64, P=0.001; in the control group, R=-0.42, P=0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QOL decreases due to LLL-related symptoms and financial difficulty in women with LLL. Well-designed prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Se Ik
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Gynecologic Cancer Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gynlim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Myong Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Biometric Research Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: KiByung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Biometric Research Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jungnam
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Gynecologic Cancer Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sokbom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; Gynecologic Cancer Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Gynecologic cancer; Lymphedema; Quality of life