Current status and trends of breast reconstruction with simultaneously treatment and prevention of upper limb lymphedema

Breast cancer is one of the highest incidence of all malignant tumors of women in China now. Surgical treatment of breast cancer always leaves patients with problems, such as defect of breast, deformity of chest wall, sunken of axilla and upper limb lymphedema, making great influences on patients′ physical and mental health and their quality of life. This review mainly focuses on the current status and trends of breast reconstruction with simultaneously prevention and treatment of upper limb lymphedema, by introducing surgical methods such as breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap / abdominal flap with vascularized lymph nodes transfer, lymph vessel anastomosis, lymph vessel and vein venous anastomosis, fat grafting and liposuction, as well as the image examinations in surgery and the conservative treatment of upper limb lymphedema. Key words: Breast reconstruction; Lymphedema; Prevention; Treatment