In our lymphology laboratory we compared the results of our previous study with a new one beginning with an accrual of 27 females in sub-clinical stage from 2008 to 2009.
Patient evaluation

In 67% of exams carried out, lymphoscintigraphy has highlighted a slower radiotracer flow: in these cases patients have been included in the rehabilitative treatment, modified compared to the precedent study, consisting in the stimulation of alternative and Mascagni pathways, breathing exercises, cervical region and scapular-thoracic exercises, and the treatment of eventual related problems.
It is also essential that patients are informed about lymph-oedema and must cooperate towards the primary prevention, so, as in the precedent study, we have included them in the informative groups, composed of an angiologist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist and patients affected by lymph-oedema: the end-pointis the information on lymph-oedema and primary prevention, the acceptance of hygienic-behavioural rules, and the active listening to the women problems.
In this study, as in the previous one,we have not observed lymphoedema onset in patients with normal lymphoscintigraphy until now, while 2 patients with homolateral slower radiotracer flow have experienced lymph-oedema onset, secondary to accidental event which is, however, avoidable in previously informed patients.

These compared studies underline the necessity to attain the complete compliance of the patients, who have to interpret the preventive measurements, highlightedin the case of slower radiotracer flow, as a fundamental, only behavioural strategy in primary prevention.

13 giugno 2011