ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Current research on the upper limb lymphatic system mainly studies breast cancer patients with unilateral lymphedema. Without preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, the contralateral limb is used as a control, assuming that it is functionally intact. Few lymphoscintigraphic studies investigate patients before any axillary surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through lymphoscintigraphy, the preoperative condition of the upper limb lymphatic system in melanoma patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Two groups were studied: the study group (16 patients with trunk/upper limb melanoma candidates for axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy) and the control group (10 healthy volunteers). All subjects underwent upper limb lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphic images were classified into three patterns based on the tracer appearance time in the axillary nodes. Type I, 20 minutes; type II, 60 minutes; and type III, 120 minutes. Statistical analysis was used to assess the relationship between lymphoscintigraphic patterns and clinical variables and to compare patterns of distribution. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphic patterns were asymmetric in 37.5 percent (study group) and 50 percent (control group). Type III was the most common pattern. There was no significant association between lymphoscintigraphic patterns and considered clinical variables. There was no significant difference in the lymphoscintigraphic pattern distribution of the two groups (p = 0.870). CONCLUSION: The authors' findings show wide differences and an often "slow" tracer appearance time in patients with intact lymphatic system, questioning the use of contralateral limb as control and transportation time greater than 30 minutes as criteria for identification of lymphatic alterations. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.
Subject(s)
Lymphatic System/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoscintigraphy , Melanoma/surgery , Preoperative Care/methods , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Upper Extremity/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Axilla , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Lymphatic System/anatomy & histology , Lymphatic System/physiology , Lymphedema/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Prospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Upper Extremity/anatomy & histology , Upper Extremity/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lip cancer and its treatment have considerable functional and cosmetic effects with resultant nutritional and physical detriments. As we continue to investigate new treatment regimens, we are simultaneously required to assess postoperative outcomes to design interventions that lessen the adverse impact of this disease process. We wish to introduce Functional Lip Glasgow Scale (FLiGS) score as a new method of outcome assessment to measure the effect of lip cancer and its treatment on patients' daily functioning. METHODS: Fifty patients affected by lip squamous cell carcinoma were recruited between 2009 and 2013. Patients were asked to fill the FLiGS questionnaire before surgery, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. The subscores were used to calculate a total FLiGS score of global oral disability. Statistical analysis was performed to test validity and reliability. RESULTS: FLiGS scores improved significantly from preoperative to 12 months postoperative values (P = 0.000). Statistical evidence of validity was provided through r s (Spearman correlation coefficient) that resulted >0.30 for all surveys and for which P < 0.001. FLiGS score reliability was shown through examination of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: FLiGS score is a simple way of assessing functional impairment related to lip cancer before and after surgery; it is sensitive, valid, reliable, and clinically relevant: it provides useful information to orient the physician in the postoperative management and in the rehabilitation program.
