Variable Anatomy and Function of the Arm's Alternate Lymphatic Pathway
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Summary
Using indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT imaging, the aim is to evaluate the anatomy of the lymphatic system pathway in two separate populations: healthy female volunteers and women with a history of breast cancer who did not develop lymphedema.
Description
Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) affects 1.2 million patients in the United States and has no cure. The symptoms of lymphedema include fatigue, tightness, pain, and life-threatening infections. However, two-thirds of women undergoing breast cancer treatment with the highest risk factors for developing lymphedema do not develop the disease. While there is no explanation for this finding, one hypothesis is that normal anatomic variations of the lymphatic system pre-dispose certain women to developing lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. Specifically, the main back-up lymphatic pathwa…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Female * History of breast cancer treatment including ALND - defined by removal of \>=10 lymph nodes - more than 2 years before study participation * Ability to understand the protocol and willingness to participate * At least 18 years of age Exclusion Criteria: * Prior history of bilateral lymph node surgery * Prior history of other surgical procedures of the affected upper extremity besides the axillary management for breast cancer treatment * Prior history of chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) * Prior history of filarial infections * Prior h…
Location
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts