Prevalence of Secondary Lymphedema in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Lymphedema is a common late effect in patients with head and neck cancer, and it develops in multiple external and internal anatomical locations. During physical examination and endoscopic procedures, clinicians should assess patients with head and neck cancer for late-effect lymphedema. Referral for treatment should be considered when lymphedema is noted. Research is needed to examine risk factors of lymphedema in patients with head and neck cancer and its effects on patients' symptoms, function, and quality of life.

Lymphedema after combination treatment of head and neck tumors

“…Внутренний отек может быть выявлен только в ре-зультате эндоскопического исследования [9]. По данным литературы, у пациентов с опухолями головы и шеи при нарушении глотания в 30 % случаев обнаружива-ется внутренняя лимфедема [10], которая может на-рушать также функции жевания, дыхания, речи.…”

“…По данным J. Deng и соавт., обследовавших 84 пациента с лимфедемой после комбинированного лечения опухолей головы и шеи, в 39,4 % случаев лимфедема была изолирован-ной внутренней, в 9,8 % -наружной, а в 50,8 % -ком-бинированной. Отметим, что в том же исследовании только 13,3 % пациентов предъявляли субъективные жалобы на отек головы и 16,7 % -на отек лица [9]. Терапия В настоящее время лимфедема области головы и шеи зачастую остается без внимания.…”

Head and neck lymphedema: what is the physical therapy approach? A literature review

“…The overall prevalence of lymphedema among head and neck cancer patients ranges from 12% and 75% (9,14,22). This discrepancy may be explained by a lack of a standard diagnosis and universal assessment criteria, as well as differences among the therapeutic procedures used to treat this type of cancer (7,9,22).…”

“…Assessment is essential for the effective treatment of lymphedema, however, most studies addressing the topic report that the instruments used to measure head and neck cancer-related lymphedema are insuf icient because the procedures used to treat this type of cancer are mutilating and involve the resection of lymph nodes and other structures, reducing tissue volume in the compromised area, hindering the effective use of circumferential techniques or veri ication of the distance between two landmarks (7,9,18,22,24,25).…”

“…Even though many of these treatments are effective in eradicating the tumor and/ or generate better results in regard to survival, local control and preservation of function, these interventions usually involve co-morbidities (5). The followup of patients after cancer treatment is important because there may be some after-effects, such as lymphedema (7,8,9).…”