Guest Editor(s)

• Dr. Hiroo Suami

  Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

  Website | E-mail

• Prof. Dr. med. Mario F. Scaglioni

  Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.

  Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.

  Website | E-mail

• Dr. Akitatsu Hayashi

  Department of Lymphedema Center, Kameda General Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

  Website | E-mail

Special Issue Introduction

Lymphedema in the upper extremity following breast cancer treatment is a well-known iatrogenic side effect. Potential surgical treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema has progressed rapidly. Historical lymphovenous bypass is now combined with indocyanine green lymphography that can visualize the lymphatic vessels preoperatively and intraoperatively. Lymph node transplant has become a popular alternative microsurgical procedure; however, the most desirable donor site and recipient site/s in the affected limb are still under discussion. Liposuction is assured of achieving complete volume reduction when excess adipose tissue is present. Recently the microsurgical preventive approach has provided us with further considerations of the timing of reconstructive surgery. There are also many ongoing debates about the selection criteria of suitable surgical candidates and procedures, outcome measurement methods, pre/postsurgical management protocols, imaging modalities, and the timing of surgery with/without breast reconstruction. About this Special Issue, we will discuss up-to-date rationales for treating breast cancer-related lymphedema and address the above issues with experts in this field.

Keywords

Lymphedema, breast cancer-related lymphedema, upper extremity