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Laustsen-Kiel et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2024;11:17 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2024.32
Aesthetic Research

Review Open Access

Breast reconstruction and breast cancer-related
lymphedema: insights and perspectives

1
1
Cecilie Mullerup Laustsen-Kiel 1,2 , Laura Hansen , Elisabeth Lauritzen , Tine Engberg Damsgaard 3
1
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Treatment, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
2
Department of Plastic and Breast Surgery, Roskilde, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde 4000, Denmark.
3
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Odense and Vejle Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Vejle 7100,
Denmark.
Correspondence to: Cecilie Mullerup Laustsen-Kiel, MD. Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Treatment, Copenhagen
University Hospital, Copenhagen East, Inge Lehmannsvej 8, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark. E-mail: Cecilie.mullerup.laustsen-
kiel@regionh.dk
How to cite this article: Laustsen-Kiel CM, Hansen L, Lauritzen E, Damsgaard TE. Breast reconstruction and breast cancer-
related lymphedema: insights and perspectives. Plast Aesthet Res 2024;11:17. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2024.32
Received: 1 Mar 2024 First Decision: 10 Apr 2024 Revised: 24 Apr 2024 Accepted: 14 May 2024 Published: 28 May 2024

Academic Editor: Roberto Cuomo Copy Editor: Yanbing Bai Production Editor: Yanbing Bai

Abstract
An estimated 500,000 women were diagnosed with the debilitating breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) in
2022. Lymphedema is not just fluid, but a complex disease characterized by low-grade inflammation, fat
deposition, and fluid accumulation, severely affecting patients’ quality of life (QoL). The impact of surgical and
adjuvant breast cancer treatment on BCRL has been investigated, and treatments have been modified to maintain a
high cancer-free survival while addressing the late effects. In addition, the demand for breast reconstruction has
increased in the last two decades, leaving a gap in the understanding of the association between BCRL and breast
reconstruction. Early detection and treatment of BCRL is crucial in preventing advancement into an impairing
chronic stage, making reliable diagnostic modalities necessary. This review is an updated overview of the various
diagnostic tools and the established and evolving treatment approaches for BCRL, providing insight into the
research findings published since 2017 on breast reconstruction and BCRL through a systematic literature search.
Based on the reviewed literature, the authors could not conclude any sure causality between BCRL and breast
reconstruction. Studies suggest that breast reconstruction contributes to lower BCRL rates, but prospective
observational studies are recommended for future research.

Keywords: Breast reconstruction, breast cancer-related lymphedema, late morbidity, cancer survivor

© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
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