LYMPHEDEMA OF THE LOWER-EXTREMITIES AFTER SURGERY AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR CANCER OF THE CERVIX

Fifty-four women were examined to find out the incidence of lymphoedem a after treatment of cancer of the uterine cervix. The women had all h ad total hysterectomy and excision of the pelvic lymph nodes and 53 ha d also received radiotherapy. The character and severity of problems e xperienced by the patients in their daily living were assessed by an i nterview. Twenty-two of the patients (41%) had a unilateral increase i n volume of 5% or more in one leg compared with 15 healthy controls in whom the difference between limbs did not exceed 4%. Of the 54 patien ts 15 (28%) had a slight swelling (>5% volume increase); 3 (6%) had mo derate swelling (>10% volume increase); and 4 (7%) had severe swelling (>15% volume increase), which was interpreted as treatment-induced ly mphoedema. Twelve (22%) of the patients had lymphoedema that was sever e enough to cause symptoms.