Scientific Session: Advances in Lymphedema Diagnosis and Care

Scientific Session: Advances in Lymphedema Diagnosis and Care

This session reviewed new outcomes data, surgical refinements and imaging techniques across the lymphedema field.

Outcomes Data

A Veterans Affairs study of 52 weeks of at-home pneumatic compression found that patients with venous-related secondary lymphedema improved across more quality of life domains than those with non-venous causes, though cellulitis events were also more frequent in the venous group.

Surgical and Imaging Advances

• Lymphaticovenous anastomosis technique was refined with ultrasonography and venous reflux prevention to improve outcomes after gynecologic cancer treatment.
• A two-surgeon, power-assisted liposuction algorithm shortened hospital stays from seven days to three with strong reduction in limb volume.
• MR lymphography and contrast-enhanced or photoacoustic ultrasound imaging located lymphatic hypertension and dermal backflow to better target anastomosis sites.

Diagnosis

A closing review concluded that clinical examination plus duplex scanning is usually sufficient, but lymphoscintigraphy remains the gold standard test when the diagnosis of lymphedema is uncertain.