RESUMEN
O câncer de mama representa o segundo tipo mais freqüente no mundo e o que mais causa mortesentre as mulheres. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar, por meio de prontuários fisioterapêuticos emédicos, o perfil das pacientes pós-cirurgia de câncer de mama com axillary web syndrome (AWS)do Hospital de Câncer de Pernambuco e da Faculdade Integrada do Recife (FIR). Das 112 pacientesavaliadas de abril a outubro de 2006, 7,1% apresentaram AWS. A maioria apresentou dore restrição de movimento, e 50% apresentaram linfedema. Metade realizou quadrantectomia e asdemais mastectomia, todas associadas ao esvaziamento axilar. Em 37,5%, a AWS se estendeu atéo antebraço. O tumor mais freqüente foi o carcinoma ductal invasivo e os estadiamentos I e IIapresentaram freqüência de 40%. Todas as pacientes realizaram quimioterapia e 80% realizaramradioterapia associada. Concluí-se, assim, que a AWS é significativa complicação pós-operatória eseus sintomas podem acarretar alterações na qualidade de vida.
Breast cancer represents the second most frequent type of cancer in the world and the one that most causesdeath among women. This study aimed at analyzing the profile of patients from the Cancer Hospital ofPernambuco and from FIR, after a breast cancer surgery with Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS), by meansof medical and physical therapeutic records. Within the 112 evaluated patients from April to Octoberof 2006, 7.1% presented AWS. The majority presented pain and restriction of movement, and 50%presented lymphedema. Half of the patients had a quadrantectomy done, while the remaining ones hada mastectomy, all of them associated with axillary dissection. In 37.5%, AWS reached the forearm. Themost frequent tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma and staging I and II presented frequency of 40%. Allpatients had chemotherapy done, and 80% of these had associated radiotherapy. Thus, it was concludedthat AWS is a significant post surgical complication, and its symptoms may lead to changes in the patientslife quality.