Factors Associated with the Severity of Lymphedema after the Treatment of Invasive Breast Cancers

Upper limb lymphedema is a rather common and debilitating sequel of breast cancer treatment. The incidence of this sequel has been reported at different rates by different sources ranging from 6% to 31%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors including age، body mass index (BMI)، region and size of the tumor، presence of metastasis، number of metastatic lymph nodes، excised axillary lymph nodes، type of surgery and radiotherapy and chemotherapy following the invasive breast carcinoma treatment.

Through a retrospective study، recorded data from 170 breast cancer patients referred to Seyed Al-Shohada Hospital، Isfahan، Iran، during 2001 to 2006 was evaluated for the lymphedema incidence and risk factors.

59 patients (34. 7%) with mean age of 47. 9 ± 10. 9 had lymphedema. In univariate analysis، obesity، estimated by BMI، was significantly associated with the development of lymphedema (P = 0. 002). The number of metastatic lymph nodes in patients with and without lymphedema had a significant statistical difference (P < 0. 0001). Age، excised nodes، type of surgery، region and size of the tumor، presence of metastasis، radiotherapy and chemotherapy had no associations with the incidence of lymphedema.

According to our findings، the number of metastatic lymph nodes as well as BMI was associated with the development of lymphedema with higher incidence in patients with higher BMI and more affected lymph nodes.