Description:

Lymphedema occurs when excess lymphatic fluid accumulates in subcutaneous tissue. Problems of lymphatic drainage can occur following Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap procedures, in which a flap of the abdomen is used to reconstruct one or both breasts after mastectomy. There is currently no literature that assesses abdominal lymphedema after DIEP surgery. This study will investigate the validity of ultrasonography (US) as method to quantify abdominal lymphedema post-DIEP flap surgery. US may represent a cost-effective, accessible method to assess abdominal lymphedema. We hypothesize that changes in subcutaneous thickness detected using US will correlate with the clinical evaluation of lymphedema post-DIEP flap surgery. Understanding the validity of US as a tool to quantify abdominal lymphedema will aid the development of interventions to minimize the discomfort, pain, chronic fibrotic changes, and reduced quality of life associated with abdominal lymphedema.