ArticleAnnals of rehabilitation medicine2013
Long-term effects of complex decongestive therapy in breast cancer patients with arm lymphedema after axillary dissection.
Article in Annals of rehabilitation medicine, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity breast cancer-related lymphedema: a review of systematic reviews.Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 2024Pooled it
- Evidence for the clinical effectiveness of decongestive lymphoedema treatment for breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema, a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022.Frontiers in oncology · 2022Pooled it
- Clinical effectiveness of decongestive treatments on excess arm volume and patient-centered outcomes in women with early breast cancer-related arm lymphedema: a systematic review.JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports · 2018Pooled it
- Effect of low-level laser therapy on pain and swelling in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2015Pooled it
- Self-administered versus lymphedema therapist-administered complex decongestive therapy protocol in breast cancer-related lymphedema: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial with three-month follow-up.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2025Trial
- Effect of complete decongestive therapy and home program on health- related quality of life in post mastectomy lymphedema patients.BMC women's health · 2016Trial
- Predictors of response to compression therapy in breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- Impact of Body Mass Index on the Outcomes of Intensive Complex Decongestive Therapy for Lower Limb Lymphedema.International journal of vascular medicine · 2026Article
- Effects of 4-Week Complex Decongestive Therapy in the Management of Breast Cancer-Related Arm Lymphedema in Montenegrin Women Post-Mastectomy and Chemo/Radiotherapy.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Long-Term Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Clinical use of photobiomodulation as a supportive care during radiation therapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022Article
- Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Improvements in Lymphedema, Quality of Life, and Fibrous Tissue in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.Annals of rehabilitation medicine · 2020Article
- The use of low-level light therapy in supportive care for patients with breast cancer: review of the literature.Lasers in medical science · 2017Review
- Validity of Quantitative Lymphoscintigraphy as a Lymphedema Assessment Tool for Patients With Breast Cancer.Annals of rehabilitation medicine · 2015Article
- Lymphoedema and health-related quality of life by early treatment in long-term survivors of breast cancer. A comparative retrospective study up to 15 years after diagnosis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2015Article
- Limb Differences in the Therapeutic Effects of Complex Decongestive Therapy on Edema, Quality of Life, and Satisfaction in Lymphedema Patients.Annals of rehabilitation medicine · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo investigate the long-term effects of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) on edema reduction in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients after axillary dissection, according to the initial volume of edema.
methodsA retrospective review of 57 patients with unilateral arm after an axillary dissection for breast cancer was performed. The patients, treated with two weeks of CDT and self-administered home therapy, were followed for 24 months. Arm volume was serially measured by using an optoelectronic volumeter prior to and immediately after CDT; and there were follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Patients were divided into two groups according to the percent excess volume (PEV) prior to CDT: group 1, PEV<20% and group 2, PEV≥20%.
resultsIn group 1, mean PEV before CDT was 11.4±5.0% and 14.1±10.6% at 24 months after CDT with no significant difference. At the end of CDT, PEV was 28.8±15.7% in group 2, which was significantly lower than the baseline (41.9±19.6%). The reduction of PEV was maintained for 24 months in group 2.
conclusionThe long-term effects of CDT were well-maintained for 24 months, but there was a difference in progression of PEV between the two groups. The patients with more initial PEV showed significant volume-reducing effects of CDT. In patients with less initial PEV, the severity of lymphedema did not progress to higher grades.
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