title: Comparisons Between Cancer-Related and Noncancer-Related Lymphedema: An Overview of New Patients Referred to a Specialized Hospital-Based Center in Canada.
abstract: Lymphedema is an irreversible inflammatory condition caused by accumulated lymph fluid and is associated with chronic swelling and increased risk of cellulitis. Our objectives were to: (1) describe the patient population referred to a Canadian lymphedema center and (2) compare lymphedema characteristics between patients with cancer and patients with noncancer diagnoses.
  
  
  
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted of new patients referred for suspected lymphedema to a hospital-based center over a 2-year period. The mean age of the patients (n = 429) was 61.4 years; 85% were female and 81% had a history of cancer. Lymphedema characteristics were primary (7%) versus secondary (92%); upper body (51%) versus lower body (45%); unilateral (74%) versus bilateral (25%); and history of cellulitis (22%). Patients with noncancer diagnoses (n = 82) were more likely than patients with cancer diagnoses (n = 347) to have a history of cellulitis (44% vs. 17%), to have bilateral (61% vs. 16%) and lower limb (89% vs. 37%) lymphedema, and to experience a long delay between symptom onset and referral (14.0 vs. 3.5 years) (p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  Most patients referred to our lymphedema center were female with a history of cancer. However, patients with noncancer diagnoses were more likely to have bilateral lower body lymphedema with an important history of cellulitis; this subgroup is at great risk of missed and delayed diagnoses in the medical setting and of experiencing long-term issues with mobility, recurrent hospitalizations, and poor quality of life.
authors.affiliation: 1 Lymphedema Program, McGill University Health Centre , Montréal, Canada .|2 Physiotherapy Department, McGill University Health Centre , Montréal, Canada .|3 School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Canada .
authors.forename: Shirin M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shallwani
authors.affiliation: 1 Lymphedema Program, McGill University Health Centre , Montréal, Canada .
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.affiliation: 1 Lymphedema Program, McGill University Health Centre , Montréal, Canada .|4 Department of Family Medicine, McGill University , Montréal, Canada .|5 Department of Oncology, McGill University , Montréal, Canada .
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Towers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Lymphedema; cancer; cellulitis; noncancer