Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2009 Aug;52(8):815-820.
The prevalence and risk factors of lower limb lymphedema in the patients with gynecologic neoplasms
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dong-eui Hospital, Busan, Korea.
- 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. leehula@hanmail.net
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence and risk factors for lower limb lymphedema in the patients after gynecologic neoplasms treatment in Korea.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and interviewed 242 gynecologic neoplasms patients who have managed surgically and medically over a 4 year period between January 2003 and December 2006. We identified the patients with lower limb lymphedema as described by the medical records or reported by the interviews. We obtained demographic characteristics, other medical history, cancer type, stage of cancer, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and laboratory findings. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the risk factors for lower limb lymphedema.
RESULTS
Forty eight (19.8%) patients out of two hundred forty two had lower limb lymphedema. Those patients with lower limb lymphedema had a higher body mass index, radiotherapy history, chemotherapy history and lymph node dissection history, radical hysterectomy. Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index, radiotherapy and lymph node dissection were independently risk factors for lower limb lymphedema after gynecologic neoplasms treatment.
CONCLUSION
The patients who had radiotherapy, body mass index greater than 25 or lymph node dissection must be considered as potential candidates to have lower limb lymphedema in the patients after gynecologic neoplasms treatment. Therefore, these patients should be informed during the follow-up period about this morbidity, the preventive measures, and the treatments.
Keyword
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- Lower Limb Lymphedema and Quality of Life in Gynecologic Cancer Patients
- Development of Lower Extremity Lymphedema Nursing Practice Protocol for Patients Following Gynecologic Cancer Treatment
- The Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block on Intractable Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Surgery
- Prevalence and Epidemiological Factors Involved in Cellulitis in Korean Patients With Lymphedema
- Micro-arteriovenous fistula in patients with lower limb lymphedema
