title: Axillary web syndrome is not a risk factor for lymphoedema after 10 years of follow-up.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between axillary web syndrome and the development of lymphoedema after 10 years of follow-up.
  
  
  
  A prospective observational study in a hospital cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at a referral centre for cancer. Patients were followed according to the routine of the hospital's physical therapy service. In addition, a review of medical records was conducted for the period between 5 and 10 years of follow-up. Data on patient characteristics, treatment, tumour and postoperative complications were collected.
  
  
  
  In all, 964 patients were included, mostly <65 years old (75 %) and classified as being overweight (68 %). Disease was diagnosed as being up to stage IIA in 54.9 % of the cases; 65.1% underwent mastectomy and 83.8% had total axillary dissection. As adjuvant treatment, 61 % underwent chemotherapy, 63.5 % radiotherapy and 68 % hormone therapy. Among surgical complications, 62.6 % of patients had seroma, 40.7 % had necrosis, 35.9 % axillary web syndrome and 31.4 % lymphoedema. There was no association between axillary web syndrome and the development of lymphoedema (OR = 0.87, 95 % CI 0.65 to 1.15, p = 0.329).
  
  
  
  The occurrence of axillary web syndrome was not a risk factor for lymphoedema after 10 years of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bárbara Reis
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wariss
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rejane Medeiros
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Padula Ribeiro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosalina Jorge
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Koifman
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. abergmann@inca.gov.br.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: Axillary web syndrome; Breast cancer; Lymphoedema; Treatment