FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., March 20 (UPI) -- A University of Arkansas surgeon has developed a new procedure to prevent swelling of the arm associated with breast cancer.
Dr. V. Suzanne Klimberg led a study of breast-cancer patients at risk for developing lymphedema -- swelling of the arms -- due to faulty drainage of the lymph nodes.
The study in the Annals of Surgical Oncology details the Axillary Reverse Mapping, or ARM procedure -- a new technique developed by Klimberg that injects blue dye into the vein, and then maps how fluid drains through the lymph-node system in the arm.
"Mapping the drainage of the arm decreases the chances of unintended disruption of the lymph node system during surgery and reduces the risk of developing swelling in the arm," Klimberg said in a statement. "We are the first to study lymph node drainage in the arm and are now using the ARM procedure as standard procedure."
Klimberg also presented the findings at the Society of Surgical Oncology 60th Annual Cancer Symposium in Washington.
