Surgical Treatments For Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer can lead to lymphedema and are some of the most common causes of secondary lymphedema. There is no cure for lymphedema. However, physiologic microsurgical techniques such as lymphaticovenular anastomosis or vascularized lymph node transfer have been developed that may improve lymphatic circulation, thereby decreasing symptoms and risk of infection. This review focuses on physiologic microsurgical interventions and will not consider reductive (also known as excisional or ablative) surgical interventions such as liposuction.