Lymphedema Research Edmonton

The following information outlines recent and currently ongoing projects relevant to the treatment and management of lymphedema. The research is sub-categorized to assist the reader in finding research relevant to particular areas of interest.

• Combined Decongestive Therapy
• Peripheral Lymphedema
• Cancer-Related
• Compression Garments
• Lymph Taping

CDT Combined Decongestive Therapy

M.L. McNeely et. al:
Conservative and Dietary Interventions for Cancer-Related Lymphedema. Cancer, 2010; 11.

Mayrovitz, HN, S Davey, E Shapiro:
Localized tissue water changes accompanying one manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapy session assessed by changes in tissue dielectric constant inpatients with lower extremity lymphdema. Lymphology 41 (2008), 87-92

Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with cancer-related or primary lymphedema.

Szuba A, Cooke JP, Yousuf S, Rockson SG.
Stanford Lymphedema Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
PubMed – National Library of Medicine

Complex decongestive physiotherapy for patients with chronic cancer-associated lymphedema.

Liao SF, Huang MS, Li SH, Chen IR, Wei TS, Kuo SJ, Chen ST, Hsu JC.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanhsiao Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan.
PubMed – National Library of Medicine

The effect of complete decongestive therapy on the quality of life of patients with peripheral lymphedema.
Comment in: Lymphology. 2002 Jun;35(2):44-5. Weiss JM, Spray BJ.
Cox Regional Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Springfield, Missouri 65807, USA.

Effects of compression bandaging with or without manual lymph drainage treatment in patients with postoperative arm lymphedema.
Johansson K, Albertsson M, Ingvar C, Ekdahl C.
Department of Physical Therapy, Lund University Hospital, Sweden. Comment in:

Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial PMID: 10494522 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Prospective trial of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer therapy.

Mondry TE, Riffenburgh RH, Johnstone PA.
Breast Health Center, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California 92134-1005, USA.
Publication Types: Evaluation Studies PMID: 15000494 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Efficacy of complete decongestive therapy and manual lymphatic drainage on treatment-related lymphedema in breast cancer.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Mar
Koul R, Dufan T, Russell C, Guenther W, Nugent Z, Sun X, Cooke AL. Department of Radiation Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Long-term management of breast cancer-related lymphedema after intensive decongestive physiotherapy.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007 Mar
Vignes S, Porcher R, Arrault M, Dupuy A. Department of Lymphology, Hôpital Cognacq-Jay, Site Broussais, 102 rue Didot, 75014, Paris, France.

Predictive factors of response to intensive decongestive physiotherapy in upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer treatment: a cohort study.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006
Vignes S, Porcher R, Champagne A, Dupuy A. Department of Lymphology, Hôpital Cognacq-Jay, Université Paris, France.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema–what are the significant predictors and how they affect the severity of lymphedema?
Breast J. 2006 Nov-Dec
Soran A, D’Angelo G, Begovic M, Ardic F, Harlak A, Samuel Wieand H, Vogel VG, Johnson RR. Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.

Complex decongestive physiotherapy for patients with chronic cancer-associated lymphedema.
J Formos Med Assoc. 2004 May
Liao SF, Huang MS, Li SH, Chen IR, Wei TS, Kuo SJ, Chen ST, Hsu JC. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanhsiao Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan.
PMID: 15216399 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of Complex Decongestive Therapy on edema and the quality of life in breast cancer patients with unilateral lymphedema
Lymphology, 2007, 40, pp 143 – 151. S.J. Kim et al
LLLT Combined With CDT in BRCA-related Lymphedema
Currently Ongoing
Sponsor: New York University School of Medicine
Principal Investigator: Theresa Denham, MD

Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for the Treatment of Head and Neck Lymphedema

Currently Ongoing
Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Principal Investigator: Jan S. Lewin, PhD

Peripheral Lymphedema

C.C Campisi, M. Ryan, C.S. Campsi, P. Di Summa, F. Boccardo, C. Campisi.  Intermittent Negative Pressure Therapy In The Combined Treatment Of Peripheral Lymphedema. Lymphology 48 (2015) 197-204

Janice N. Cormier, MD, MPH, Loren Rourke, MD, Melissa Crosby, MD, David Chang, MD and Jane Armer, RN, PhD. The Surgical Treatment of Lymphedema: A Systematic Review of the Contemporary Literature (2004 – 2010) Ann Surg Oncol (2012). 19:642-651

Cormier JN, Rourke L, Crosby M, Chang D, Armer J. The Surgical Treatment of Lymphedema: A Systematic Review of the Contemporary Literature (2004-2010).  Ann Surg Oncol. Aug 24 2011.

Franks, PJ, CJ Moffatt, DC Doherty, et al:
Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with lymphedema of the lower limb.
Wound Repair Regen. 14 (2006), 110-118

Piller, NB, L Clodius: The use of a tissue tonometer as a diagnostic aid in extremity lymphoedema: A determination of its conservative treatment with benzo-pyrones.
Lymphology 9 (1976), 127-132

Mayrovitz, HN: Assessing lymphedema by tissue indentation force and local tissue water.
Lymphology 42 (2009), 88-98.

Anand, S, H Lal, BK Dhaon: Lymphedema of the lower extremity as a complication of local burns.
Burns 24 (1998), 767-769.

Are Peripheral Edema Lymphatics damaged by high pressure manual massage? Lymphology, 1995, 28, pp 21 – 30, o. Elska, M. Eliskova

Cancer Related

A. Zimmerman, M. Wozniewski, A. Szklarska, A. Lipowicz, A. Szuba: Efficacy of Manual Lympathic Drainage in Preventing Secondary Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery. Lymphology 45 (2012) 103 – 112

Nicole L. Stout, Lucinda A. Pfalzer, Barbara Springer, Ellen Levy, Charles L. McGarvey, Jerome V. Danoff, Lynn H. Gerber, Peter W. Soballe: Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Comparing Direct Costs of a Prospective Surveillance Model and a Traditional Model of Care. Phys. Ther. 2012 January; 92(1): 152-163.

Mei R. Fu, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN: Seroma: A Preditor for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema. National Lymphedema Network October / December 2012.

Lyn Lingman, Rebeeca K.S. Wong, Mary Johnston, Nancy S. Laetsch: The Treatment of lymphedema related to breast cancer: a systematic review and evidence summary. Support Care Cancer (2004)

Current Options for prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema in the United States: patient-based considerations. Gower RG, Lumry WR, Davis-Lorton MA, Johnston DT, Busse PJ. University of Washington, Marycliff Allergy Specialists, Spokane, Washington, USA. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2012 May;33(3): 235-40.

Hamner, JB, MD Fleming: Lymphedema therapy reduces the volume of edema and pain in patients with breast cancer. Ann. Surg. Oncol. 14 (2007), 1904-1908.

Armer, JM: The problem of post-breast cancer lymphedema: Impact and measurement issues. Cancer Invest. 23 (2005), 76-83.

Szuba, A, JP Cooke, S Yousufm et al: Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with cancer-related or primary lymphedema. Am. J. Med. 109 (2000), 296-300

Casseroller, RG: The Vodder School:The Vodder method.  Cancer 83(12 Suppl American) (1998), 2840-2842

Dawes, DJ, S Meterissian, M Goldberg, et al:Impact of lymphodema of arm function and health-related quality of life in women following breast cancer surgery. J. Rehabil. Med. 40 (2008), 651-658

Trial of Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy for Lymphedema in Women With Breast Cancer “DELTA STUDY”
Currently Ongoing
Sponsor: Ontario Clinical Oncology Group (OCOG)
Study Director: Ian Dayes, MD, et al

Does Scar Massage Improve Postoperative Pain and Function in Women With Breast Cancer?
Currently Ongoing
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Principal Investigator: Pauline Truong, MD