Breast cancer related upper limb lymphedema: approach and surgical management

Lymphedema of the upper extremities in a common, chronic, progressive and debilitating disease, that affects the increasing population of cancer survivors. The gold standard is nowadays an integrated approach, including conservative and surgical treatment. Lymphatic surgery, particularly the physiologic procedures including lymphatic-venous anastomosis and vascularized lymph node transfer, should be offered to lymphedema patients as soon as possible, aimed to ameliorate the subjective symptoms and to interrupt the degeneration cascade that makes this condition progressive over time. Indications for surgery, patient selection, and diagnostic tools will be discussed. (Cite this article as: Bianchi A, Salgarello M, Hayashi A, Visconti G. Breast cancer related upper limb lymphedema: approach and surgical management. Minerva Surg 2021;76:575-9. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5691.21.09013-4)

Automated summary

Upper limb lymphedema is a common, chronic, progressive, and debilitating disease that affects a growing population of cancer survivors. The current gold standard is an integrated approach, including conservative and surgical treatment, with a special focus on offering lymphatic surgery early to ameliorate symptoms and halt disease progression.