Definition
Lymphedema of the arms can be caused by a disorder of the lymphatic system in the area of the arms, shoulder or chest. Tissue water is removed via the lymph channels and fed into the circulation. As a result of the drainage disorder, water is visibly and palpably stored in the arm, causing it to swell.
This is usually a secondary lymphedema, i.e. it occurs as a result of an accident or an operation. In rare cases, there is a (hereditary) primary lymphedema without trigger. Regular treatment can often largely relieve the symptoms, but a cure is not possible. If no treatment is carried out, in some cases an irreversible hardening and functional impairment of the arm may occur.
Causes
The cause of lymphedema of the arms is an accumulation of lymph fluid in the tissue, caused by lymph congestion. Due to different causes of this dysfunction of the lymphatic system, a distinction is made between primary and secondary lymphedema of the arms. Secondary lymphedema of the arms is much more common and is caused by one or more triggers that have damaged the lymphatic drainage of the arm.
For example, it may be an accident that has led to a broken bone in the shoulder or arm area. Another common cause is cancer of the breast, for example. In most cases, breast cancer requires surgery and often radiation therapy.
Both forms of therapy can also cause damage to the lymphatic system as a side effect, which can lead to lymphedema in the arm. During surgery for breast cancer, lymph nodes usually have to be removed as well, and the radiation causes the lymphatic channels to stick together. Depending on the side of the body affected by the disease, the corresponding arm is usually also affected.
Likewise, an infection of the arm, which leads to erysipelas, can lead to secondary lymphedema. After breast cancer, which usually requires surgery and often additional radiation, lymphedema of the arm can occur in some cases. In order to treat the cancer, several lymph nodes that are located on the lymph drainage path of the arm must usually be removed.
This can impair lymph flow. In addition, the radiation damages the lymph channels so that they can become sticky. Lymphedema can therefore occur as a possible complication of tumor treatment. However, nowadays more gentle surgical procedures are possible, which usually allow a safe removal of the tumor without impairing the lymph flow too much, so that lymphedema of the arms after breast cancer treatment occurs in only about 2% of cases.
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