{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T10:50:26Z","timestamp":1789123826518,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757462400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cancers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) may help to decrease lymphedema after ALND by creating lymphatic bypasses. This retrospective single-institution study aimed to compare lymphedema in patients undergoing ALND with and without ILR. Materials and Methods: Bioimpedance and limb measurements determined the presence of BCRL. The categorical data that were collected and analyzed included BMI, comorbidities, BCRL onset, and number of lymphatic bypasses. Pearson\u2019s chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with the onset of lymphedema. An odds ratio compared the incidence of BCRL with and without ILR. Results: In total, 186 patients underwent ALND, 44 (24%) with ILR and 142 (76%) without. The mean number of bypasses during ILRs created was 3.54. The odds of developing lymphedema with ILR were 64% lower than for ALND alone. ILR patients who developed BCRL had a mean onset of 543 days post-operatively versus 389 days in the control group. Age, ethnicity, BMI, and bypass amount had no significant influence on lymphedema development. Conclusions: ILR was associated with lower rates of BCRL after ALND. Patients who developed lymphedema despite undergoing ILR did so 8 months later than the controls.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers17182964","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T12:04:55Z","timestamp":1757505895000},"page":"2964","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Characterizing Trends of Lymphedema After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection with and Without Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Kella L.","family":"Vangsness","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of General Surgery, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA 93033, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2783-7807","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andre-Philippe","family":"Sam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 92618, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeff","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 92618, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yash A.","family":"Mehta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 92618, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael W.","family":"Chu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mouchammed","family":"Agko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 92618, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antoine L.","family":"Carr\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 92618, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fahad Ullah, M. 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