Lymphedema: Current Issues in Research and Management
Petrek JA, Pressman PI, Smith RA; 2000
Synopsis: After an American Cancer Society Workshop and Conference on Lymphedema in 1998, this article was written to summarize the anatomy, physiology, detection, and treatment of lymphedema known at that time.
Abstract: Lymphedema is a common and trouble-some problem that can develop following breast cancer treatment. As with other quality-of-life and non lethal conditions, it receives less research funding and attention than do many other areas of study. In 1998, an invited workshop sponsored by the American Cancer Society reviewed and evaluated the current state of knowledge about lymphedema. Recommendations and research initiatives proposed by the 60 international participants are presented in the conclusion section of the article, following a summary of current knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, detection, and current treatment of lymphedema.The etiology of lymphedema is multifaceted; all of the factors that contribute to the condition and the nature of their interaction have not yet been identified. To compound the problem, methods of assessing the degree of arm and hand swelling vary and are not agreed upon, and reliable methods of assessing the functional impact of lymphedema have not yet been developed.
Keywords: lymphedema, lymphoedema
APA Citation: Petrek, J., Pressman, P., & Smith, R. (2000). Lymphedema: current issues in research and management. CA: A Cancer Journal For Clinicians, 50(5), 292-307. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/canjclin.50.5.292
AMA Citation: Petrek J, Pressman P, Smith R. Lymphedema: current issues in research and management. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2000;50(5):292-307. doi:10.3322/canjclin.50.5.292.
