Lymphedema awareness called 'big problem'.(Often Goes Undiagnosed)

MONTREAL -- Lymphedema is a condition that has a high morbidity and can be fatal, but most physicians know little about its risk factors, diagnosis, or treatment, Dr. Horst Weissleder said.

"Awareness is a big problem, because early diagnosis is essential in preventing progression of this disease," said Dr. Weissleder at a meeting sponsored by the Lymphedema Association of Quebec and McGill University.

Primary lymphedema is a congenital condition caused by an anatomical defect of the lymphatic system. This condition is usually correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients because of the lack of other possibilities in this population. The majority of lymphedema patients, however, have secondary disease, caused by damage to their lymphatic system--usually as a result of cancer treatment.

The cancer patients who are at highest risk for lymphedema are breast cancer survivors who have had either lymph node dissection or radiation therapy or both. Estimates of the incidence of lymphedema in this population vary from 20% to 40%, which translates into roughly 40,000 new cases per year in the United States, said Dr. Weissleder, who is professor of radiology at the University of Freiburg, Germany

"But ...