Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41886031›Full record

ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2026

LYMPHA Technique to Prevent Arm Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Treatment: A Single-Center Study Based on a 15-Year Follow-Up Period.

Francesco Boccardo, Gregorio Santori, Beatrice Fedre, Piero Fregatti, Francesca De Paoli, Federica Murelli, Sara Dessalvi, Franco De Cian

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Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

Francesco BoccardoDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. francesco.boccardo@unige.it.
Gregorio SantoriDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Beatrice FedreDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Piero FregattiDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Francesca De PaoliBreast Unit, San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Federica MurelliDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Sara DessalviDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Franco De CianDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach (LYMPHA) in preventing lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer.

methodsThis retrospective, single-center study analyzed 550 women who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) between January 2008 and July 2009. The analysis included 500 patients who completed long-term follow-up evaluation. The patients were divided into two groups: 270 patients who underwent ALND with LYMPHA, including 203 who also received radiotherapy and 230 patients who underwent ALND without preventive microsurgical treatment, 173 of whom received radiotherapy. The LYMPHA procedure consisted of performing lymphatic-venous anastomoses at the time of ALND. All the patients were followed up for as long as 15 years with arm volumetry and lymphscanner measurements.

resultsArm lymphedema developed in 5 (2.5 %) of the 203 patients who underwent ALND with LYMPHA plus radiotherapy and in 1 (1.5 %) of the 67 patients who underwent ALND with LYMPHA alone. In the group without LYMPHA, lymphedema occurred in 78 (45 %) of the 173 patients who underwent ALND with radiotherapy and in 17 (30 %) of the 57 patients who underwent ALND without radiotherapy. Lymphedema onset occurred 6 to 36 months after surgery. The lymphedema-free cumulative probability was significantly higher in the LYMPHA group than in the no-LYMPHA group (0.978 vs 0.587; p < 0.001). In addition, changes in arm volume relative to baseline at 15 years were significantly lower in the LYMPHA group (p < 0.01).

conclusionsFor the primary prevention of secondary arm lymphedema, LYMPHA is an effective technique.

Indexed as

ArmBreast NeoplasmsLymphatic VesselsLymphedemaLymph Node ExcisionMicrosurgeryPostoperative ComplicationsAdultAgedAnastomosis, SurgicalAxillaFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingArm lymphedemaAxillary lymph node dissectionBreast cancerLYMPHA techniqueLymphatic microsurgeryLymphatic-venous bypass surgeryLymphedema prevention

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PMID41886031

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