Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
6-1-2024
Journal
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Head and neck lymphedema (HNL), including external and internal types, could be a possible consequence for patients who have received neck dissection and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Initially, the common presentations are heaviness or tightness, followed by swelling in appearance, or difficulty speaking and swallowing in internal edema cases. Lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) is an established approach to treat extremity lymphedema. We hereby present our preliminary experience in using LVA to treat HNL.
METHODS: Between March 2021 and January 2024, six patients with HNL were treated with LVA via a preauricular or submandibular incision of the obstructed side. Lymphedema Symptom Intensity and Distress Surveys-Head and Neck (LSIDS-H&N) were used for evaluation. In addition, for the external type, MD Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck Lymphedema (MDACC HNL) rating scale was used for evaluation. For the internal type, Swallowing Quality of Life was used for evaluation.
RESULTS: With an average follow-up period of 15.4 ± 15.9 months, LSIDS-H&N improved from 1.11 ± 0.54 to 0.44 ± 0.66 (
CONCLUSIONS: Based on our preliminary results, LVA could be a potential solution to both external and internal HNL.
DOI
10.1097/GOX.0000000000005872
PMID
38841535
PMCID
PMC11152802
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
6-5-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
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