Cervical lymphatic tissue as an alternative donor site for the microsurgical treatment of secondary lymphedema in limbs

Objective: To describe cervical lymphnodes as an option for a donor area for the transfer of vascularized tissue in lymphedema surgeries. Methods: Five microsurgical procedures were performed to transfer vascularized lymphatic tissue from cervical stages Ib, III, or IV as the donor site. Patient out...

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Main Authors: Gustavo Amaral de Abreu, Diego Alvarez Naranjo, Felipe de Borba Chiaramonte Silva, Edgar Edinson Fernandez Altamiranda, Sofia Ratchitzki Teixeira, Gabriel Manfro, Gilberto Vaz Teixeira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000436
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Summary:Objective: To describe cervical lymphnodes as an option for a donor area for the transfer of vascularized tissue in lymphedema surgeries. Methods: Five microsurgical procedures were performed to transfer vascularized lymphatic tissue from cervical stages Ib, III, or IV as the donor site. Patient outcomes were evaluated from 15 to 180 days postoperatively using metric assessments and photographic documentation. Results: In this study, complete improvement in the measures of certain parts of the affected limb was observed in two of the five patients (100% improvement). Two patients experienced an improvement of over 50%. One patient, lost to follow-up, showed no improvement. Conclusion: Lymphatic tissue from cervical levels appears to be a viable donor site for the surgical treatment of lymphedema in the limbs. This method may yield promising future outcomes, constituting a new area of practice for head and neck surgeons. Level of evidence: Level IV.
ISSN:1808-8694