“The Uncertainty Principle”– studying immediate lymphatic reconstruction impacts the natural history of breast cancer related lymphedema

Abstract

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is a life-altering sequela for patients and a challenging problem for their surgeons. In order to prevent BCRL, immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a surgical technique that has been devised to restore lymphatic drainage to the operative limb. Although ILR is becoming popular in the literature, we have identified several challenges within our own ILR research, including a lack of a clear definition of lymphedema, a lack of common outcome measures and possible alteration of the natural history of lymphedema through early compression therapy. Given these challenges, we must move forward with caution, while striving to develop clear and universally agreed upon definitions and outcomes, so that we can advance the body of evidence in support of ILR.