Often Ignored: Breast Edema

Alaca N., Erkol F. N.

47th Congress of European Society of Lymphology, İstanbul, Türkiye, 30 Mayıs - 02 Haziran 2024, ss.1

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

INTRODUCTION:

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide, representing 25% of all cancers. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy after lymph node biopsy are widely used in the treatment of breast cancer. In some patients, breast edema occurs in the breast that has undergone surgery and radiotherapy.

 

 CASE:

46-year-old female patient; On the 10th day of radiotherapy, she applied to the outpatient clinic with complaints of swelling, heaviness and redness in her left breast. In the patient who had left breast-conserving surgery 1.5 months ago and had 5 lymph nodes excised and sentinel lymph node biopsy performed, breast edema, redness, and pore enlargement in the breast skin were detected on the 10th day of radiotherapy.

In physical examination; In the upper extremity circumference measurements made with a tape measure at standard points, no significant difference in circumference was detected on the left side compared to the right side (<1 cm). Again, using a  measure, the chest circumference was determined as 114 cm. No limitation was detected in the patient's shoulder joint range of motion. Objective edema, fibrosis, redness, and enlargement of breast skin pores were detected in the patient's left breast. Examination findings of other systems were normal. Complex decongestive therapy including 20 sessions of manual lymph drainage, self-drainage and exercise training was applied. Treatment was terminated with self-drainage, exercise and protection recommendations.

 

RESULTS:

 Picture 1: Skin pores appearance before and after complex decongestive therapy

 

 

 

Table 1: Breast volume circumference measurement

Before Treatment

114 cm

10th seance

112 cm

3 Months After Radiotherapy (After 20 Seance)

112 cm

 

CONCLUSIONS:

• Breast-conserving surgery with lymph node biopsy causes damage to the lymphatic pathways not only in the upper extremity but also in the breast.

• The risk of developing breast edema increases due to radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery in which lymph node biopsy is performed.

• The importance of early intervention in breast edema during radiotherapy should be taken into consideration.

• Complex decongestive therapy is effective in the treatment of breast edema, which may occur in patients who have undergone breast-conserving surgery and received adjuvant radiotherapy.