EC Gynaecology

Introduction: Breast cancer related lymphedema is a chronic and recurrent condition involving the lymphatic and blood systems.

Objective: Objective is to determine, within our survey, the incidence of breast cancer related lymphedema as well as to a study the different risk factors relating to the occurrence of arm lymphedema.

Materials and Methods: Sectional study carried out over a period of two years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 covering all women treated for breast cancer in the obstetrics and gynecology department of University Hospital center MOHAMED VI in Marrakesh.

Results: The incidence of BCRL is 26.5% (22/83 patients), after a median follow up of 48 months. 64% of them have minimal disability according Dash score; 36% of patients with lymphedema had rehabilitation. However, improvement of lymphedema was observed by patient in 7 cases. Parameters predicting lymphedema were studied. Significant risk factors were higher BMI, diabetes and the long time to treatment initiation between diagnosis of BC and treatment, the type of surgery, ALND, RLNR, CT did not predict lymphedema.

Conclusion: The development of arm lymphedema is an unpredictable occurrence that can happen years after axillary surgery, findings from this study can help health professionals in educating breast cancer survivors about lymphedema risk factors, as well as early detection and management of it by use of circumferential arm measurements to evaluate limb evolution during follow-up care.

 Keywords: Arm Lymphedema; Incidence; Risk Factors; Breast Cancer

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