Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Apr;16(4):979-88.
doi: 10.1245/s10434-009-0347-2. Epub 2009 Feb 5.

A contemporary, population-based study of lymphedema risk factors in older women with breast cancer

Tina W F Yen  1 , Xiaolin Fan, Rodney Sparapani, Purushuttom W Laud, Alonzo P Walker, Ann B Nattinger
Affiliations

A contemporary, population-based study of lymphedema risk factors in older women with breast cancer

Tina W F Yen et al. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Background: We studied potential risk factors for lymphedema in a contemporary population of older breast cancer patients.

Methods: Telephone surveys were conducted among women (65-89 years) identified from Medicare claims as having initial breast cancer surgery in 2003. Lymphedema was classified by self-report. Surgery and pathology information was obtained from Medicare claims and the state cancer registries.

Results: Of 1,338 patients treated by 707 surgeons, 24% underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and 57% axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). At a median of 48 months postoperatively, 193 (14.4%) had lymphedema. Lymphedema developed in 7% of the 319 patients who underwent SLNB and in 21% of the 759 patients who underwent ALND. When controlling for patient age, tumor size, type of breast cancer, type of breast and axillary surgery, receipt of radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy, and surgeon case volume, the independent predictors of lymphedema were removal of more than five lymph nodes [odds ratio (OR) 4.68-5.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-19.74 for 6-15 nodes; OR 10.50, 95% CI 2.88-38.32 for >15 nodes] and presence of lymph node metastases (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.21-3.24).

Conclusions: Four years postoperatively, 14% of a contemporary, population-based cohort of elderly breast cancer survivors had self-reported lymphedema. In this group of predominantly community-based surgeons, the number of lymph nodes removed is more predictive of lymphedema rather than whether SLNB or ALND was performed. As more women with breast cancer undergo only SLNB, it is essential that they still be counseled on their risk for lymphedema.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

    1. Petrek JA, Pressman PI, Smith RA. Lymphedema: current issues in research and management. CA Cancer J Clin. 2000;50:292–307. - PubMed
    1. Sparaco A, Fentiman IS. 9. Arm lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment. Int J Clin Pract. 2002;56:107–10. - PubMed
    1. Hewitt ME, Greenfield S, Stovall E, editors. From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Translation. First ed. National Academies Press; Washington, D.C.: 2006. The medical and psychological concerns of cancer survivors after treatment; pp. 87–9.
    1. Erickson VS, Pearson ML, Ganz PA, Adams J, Kahn KL. Arm edema in breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001;93:96–111. - PubMed
    1. Kissin MW, Querci della Rovere G, Easton D, Westbury G. Risk of lymphoedema following the treatment of breast cancer. Br J Surg. 1986;73:580–4. - PubMed

Publication types