Risk factors for lymphatic drainage change in the upper limb after breast cancer surgery

Objective To investigate the risk factors of secondary upper limb lymph circulation pattern after breast cancer surgery. Methods 117 cases undergoing breast cancer surgery from May 2014 to May 2015 were studied. Circumferential fluorescent images of lymphatic drainage channels were obtained by an near infrared fluorescence imaging system. Characteristic findings were analyzed according to Yamamoto evaluation method. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of secondary lymphedema. Results 36 out of the 117 patients had lymph flow changes, and the incidence was 30.8% (36/117) . Surgery-related lymphedema was positively correlated with obesity, radiotherapy, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) (P<0.05) . Conclusion Significant related factors are: obesity, radiotherapy, ALND, while age, and advantage arm are not related to arm dermal backflow pattern. Key words: Breast cancer; Lymphedema; Indocyanine green-enhanced lymphography; Upper limb lymph circulation pattern