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Postoperative Lower Extremity Edema in Patients with Primary Endometrial Cancer

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study was to investigate clinical manifestations of lower extremity edema (LEE) after lymph node dissection in patients with primary endometrial cancer.

Methods

Women with primary endometrial cancer who underwent staging surgery between November 2001 and March 2011 were included in the study. Medical records and/or responses to the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) were used for LEE evaluation.

Results

All 154 patients underwent pelvic lymph node dissection, and 126 patients (81.8 %) underwent paraaortic LN dissection. The median age of the patients was 52 years, the majority had stage I cancer (78.6 %), and most had endometrioid histology (90.9 %). The most frequent GCLQ responses were “experienced swelling” (35.7 %), “experienced numbness” (30.5 %), “experienced heaviness” (29.9 %), and “experienced aching” (29.9 %). Sixty-four patients (41.6 %) had previous (9/64, 14.1 %) and/or current (55/64, 85.9 %) patient-reported LEE. Most patients developed LEE within 12 months after surgery (39/56, 69.6 %), and LEE lasted for more than 12 months in most patients (45/56, 80.4 %). Three patients reported recurrent LEE after recovery. Multivariate logistic regression identified the number of dissected pelvic lymph node (≥21) as a risk factor for LEE [odds ratio (OR) 3.28; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.058–10.136] and postoperative radiotherapy (OR 3.81, 95 % CI 1.67–8.69).

Conclusions

LEE developed in more than one-third of patients with endometrial cancer after surgery, and LEE lasted for more than 12 months in most patients. A high number of dissected pelvic lymph nodes and postoperative radiotherapy is associated with LEE.

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Disclosure

The authors report no conflict of interest or financial relationship.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hyo Sook Bae MD, PhD

    Present address: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, Seoul, Korea

  2. Yumi Lee RN, PhDc

    Present address: Department of Nursing, Sorabol College, Gyeongju-Si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Uterine Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Hyo Sook Bae MD, PhD, Myong Cheol Lim MD, PhD, Jeong Seon Lee RN, Yumi Lee RN, PhDc, Sang-Soo Seo MD, PhD, Sokbom Kang MD, PhD, Joo-Young Kim MD, PhD & Sang-Yoon Park MD, PhD

  2. Gynecologic Cancer Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Myong Cheol Lim MD, PhD, Sokbom Kang MD, PhD, Joo-Young Kim MD, PhD & Sang-Yoon Park MD, PhD

  3. Biostatistics Biometric Research Branch, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Byung Ho Nam PhD

  4. Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Seung Hyun Chung MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Hyo Sook Bae MD, PhD
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  2. Myong Cheol Lim MD, PhD
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  3. Jeong Seon Lee RN
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  6. Sang-Soo Seo MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myong Cheol Lim MD, PhD.

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Bae, H.S., Lim, M.C., Lee, J.S. et al. Postoperative Lower Extremity Edema in Patients with Primary Endometrial Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 186–195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4613-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4613-1

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