Procedure can stop lymphedema after breast cancer op

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Doctors at the University of Arkansas have found a way of reducing lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.
Removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit can be an important part of breast cancer surgery, because it can reduce the risk of recurrence. However, removing the nodes interferes with the lymph drainage process and can cause a swelling of the arm known as lymphedema.

Doctors at the University of Arkansas have developed a way of preventing accidental disruption of the lymph node system during breast cancer surgery. In a procedure called Axillary Reverse Mapping (ARM) a dye is injected which shows how the lymph fluid drains in the arm. With this map, the surgeon is able to remove the lymph nodes, without causing damage to the lymph drainage system. At the University of Arkansas, they are now using ARM as standard procedure. This new approach will help women avoid one of the most common complications of breast cancer surgery.

Source
Society of Surgical Oncology meeting 17th March 2007

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