Abordaje multidisciplinar en el paciente con linfedema: de la rehabilitación a la microcirugía / Multidisciplinary approach in the lymphedema patient: From rehabilitation to microsurgery

El linfedema es una enfermedad crónica con una elevada incidencia en nuestra sociedad. En este trabajo presentamos una revisión bibliográfica con los últimos avances en técnicas de imagen y tratamiento quirúrgico con técnicas reconstructivas del linfedema (anastomosis linfático-venosas, trasplante vascularizado de ganglios linfáticos y cirugía profiláctica del linfedema). Además, se establece un protocolo basado en el trabajo de un equipo multidisciplinar (compuesto por rehabilitadores, cirujanos plásticos, radiólogos y médicos nucleares) que optimiza el tratamiento de estos pacientes.(AU)

Lymphedema is a chronic disease with a high incidence in our society. In this paper, we present a review with the latest advances in imaging techniques and surgical reconstructive treatment of lymphedema (lymphovenous anastomosis, vascularized lymph node transfer, and prophylactic lymphedema surgery). In addition, a protocol is established based on a multidisciplinary team (composed of physiatrists, plastic surgeons, radiologists and nuclear medicine radiologists) to optimize the treatment of these patients.(AU)

[Multidisciplinary approach in the lymphedema patient: From rehabilitation to microsurgery]. / Abordaje multidisciplinar en el paciente con linfedema: de la rehabilitación a la microcirugía.

Lymphedema is a chronic disease with a high incidence in our society. In this paper, we present a review with the latest advances in imaging techniques and surgical reconstructive treatment of lymphedema (lymphovenous anastomosis, vascularized lymph node transfer, and prophylactic lymphedema surgery). In addition, a protocol is established based on a multidisciplinary team (composed of physiatrists, plastic surgeons, radiologists and nuclear medicine radiologists) to optimize the treatment of these patients.

Double autologous lymph node transplantation (ALNT) at the level of the knee and inguinal region for advanced lymphoedema of the lower limb (elephantiasis).

Primary lower-limb lymphoedema is a chronic, progressive and debilitating condition with a difficult management, especially in advanced cases (elephantiasis). Recently, autologous lymph node transplantation (ALNT) appears to be a promising treatment for extremity lymphoedema. A case of a double ALNT for an advanced primary lower-limb lymphoedema is here reported: a contralateral inguinal lymph node flap was transferred to the knee and, in a second surgery, a thoracic lymph node flap was transplanted to the inguinal region. Clinical outcomes at 5 months postoperatively are very satisfactory with reduction in limb circumferences and improvement in skin quality and social impairment.

Thyroid cancer among young women related to prior thyroid disease and pregnancy history.

We conducted an epidemiologic case-control study of thyroid cancer in women aged 40 and under to test the hypothesis that endogenous hormones may relate to the development of this disease, since the only known cause of thyroid cancer, ionizing radiation, does not account for the striking female over male excess. When compared to neighbour controls women with thyroid cancer more often had a history of benign hyperplastic thyroid disease (Relative Risk (RR) = 14.5; P less than 0.01) and more often had ever been pregnant (RR = 2.1; P = 0.04). Both these findings were consistent with findings of previous studies. After eliminating women with a history of hyperplastic thyroid disease from the analysis we found a strong association with miscarriage as the outcome of the first pregnancy (RR = 11.5; P less than 0.01), and we suspect that this factor may be another indicator of thyroid abnormality. An independent and increasing risk was observed with an increase in the total number of pregnancies after excluding women with prior thyroid disease and those whose first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. The RR for 4 or more pregnancies was 6.3 (P = 0.03). Prior exposure to radiation therapy was not an important factor in our study of young women; this suggests that the emphasis in future studies of thyroid cancer must shift to study other types of risk factors.

A dental x-ray validation study. Comparison of information from patient interviews and dental charts.

Information was collected from dentists of a subset of participants in a case-control interview study conducted in Los Angeles County, California, in August 1980-August 1981 to evaluate the relationship of dental x-rays to tumors of the parotid gland. Complete dental charts were available from 142 dentists of 84 cases and from 130 dentists of 79 controls. Analysis of data from these interview-chart comparisons indicates that recall appears to be unbiased since the measures of agreement between interview and dental chart data are similar for cases and controls. The authors further conclude that interview data alone may be used for case-control comparisons of dental x-ray exposure and would, because of unbiased misclassification, tend to underestimate the relative risks.