title: Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Quality of Life after Lymph Node Transfer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer-related lymphedema affects multiple aspects of patients' daily lives. The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of vascularized lymph node transfer on the quality of life in patients with lymphedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2007 and 2012, 25 female patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema underwent vascularized lymph node transfer. In 22 cases, the patients underwent a simultaneous deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap breast reconstruction based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery. The influence on quality of life was evaluated using the Upper Limb Lymphedema-27 questionnaire, which includes physical, psychological, and social dimensions. The authors also investigated risk factors for lymphedema, such as body mass index, smoking, age, and time between start of lymphedema and vascularized lymph node transfer, and their impact on quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients (84 percent) had an improvement of quality of life after vascularized lymph node transfer. The mean physical, psychological, and social scores were significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.001). Risk factors for the development of lymphedema did not influence quality of life among patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema. Skin infections disappeared in 50 percent of the cases. Eleven patients (44 percent) discontinued compression therapy at a mean postoperative time interval of 29 months (range, 8 to 64 months). In the other patients (56 percent), the average frequency of compression therapy decreased from three sessions to one session per week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascularized lymph node transfer significantly improves quality of life among patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Brucker
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Assaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeltzer
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seidenstuecker
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adriaenssens
authors.affiliation: Brussels, Belgium.|From the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Oncologic Rehabilitation, Brussels University Hospital, and the Physical Therapy Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
authors.forename: Moustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamdi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000072656:Breast Cancer Lymphedema / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000637:transplantation*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity