Funcionalidade e qualidade de vida em indivíduos com linfedema unilateral em membro inferior: um estudo transversal / Functionality and quality of life of patients with unilateral lymphedema of a lower limb: a cross-sectional study

O linfedema de membros inferiores é uma doença crônica decorrente de dano no sistema linfático que influencia a mobilidade, a funcionalidade e a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos. Questionários e o teste físico são métodos bastante práticos, de fácil aplicação e baixo custo, que fornecem dados importantes para a avaliação desses pacientes. Objetivos Avaliar a influência do linfedema unilateral de membro inferior na funcionalidade e na qualidade de vida, correlacionando três ferramentas de avaliação. Métodos Estudo descritivo com 25 indivíduos com linfedema unilateral em membro inferior, de ambos os sexos. Foi avaliada a perimetria e foram aplicados The Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) para avaliação da qualidade de vida, Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL) para estudo das habilidades físicas, mentais e sociais relacionadas ao linfedema e o Timed Up and Go (TUG) para avaliação da funcionalidade. Resultados Houve a presença de linfedema em todo o membro inferior dos participantes. Os domínios mais prejudicados pelo linfedema foram os aspectos físicos (25,0 ± 31,4) e emocionais (36,0 ± 42,9) no SF-36 e o domínio mobilidade (6,0 ± 2,6) no Lymph-ICF-LL. O TUG foi realizado em 9,88 ± 1,98 s. Houve correlação entre o TUG e os questionários e entre os dois questionários utilizados. Conclusões Indivíduos com linfedema unilateral em membro inferior apresentam um impacto negativo na qualidade de vida e na funcionalidade avaliadas através de questionários, que correlacionam entre si. Não foi encontrada alteração no TUG, mas houve correlação entre ele e os questionários utilizados

Lymphedema of the lower limbs is a chronic disease caused by damage to the lymphatic system that influences people's mobility, functionality, and quality of life. Questionnaires and physical test are very practical, easy to apply, and low cost methods that provide important data for evaluation of these patients. Objectives To evaluate the influence of unilateral lower limb lymphedema on functionality and quality of life, correlating 3 assessment tools. Methods This was a descriptive study investigating 25 patients of both sexes with unilateral lymphedema in a lower limb. Limb volume was assessed using circumferential tape measurements, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life, the Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL) was used to assess physical, mental, and social skills related to lymphedema, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used for functional assessment. Results Lymphedema was present throughout the affected lower limb of participants. The domains most affected by lymphedema were physical aspects (25.0 ± 31.4) and emotional aspects (36.0 ± 42.9) from the SF-36 and the mobility domain (6.0 ± 2.6) from the Lymph -ICF-LL. Patients performed the TUG in 9.88 ± 1.98 seconds. The TUG was correlated with the questionnaires and the questionnaires were correlated with each other. Conclusions People with unilateral lower limb lymphedema exhibited negative impacts on quality of life and functionality, as evaluated by questionnaires, which were correlated with each other. TUG performance was within normal limits, but results correlated with the questionnaires used

Cutaneous angiosarcoma: report of three different and typical cases admitted in a unique dermatology clinic

Abstract: Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive tumor with high rates of metastasis and relapse. It shows a particular predilection for the skin and superficial soft tissues. We report three distinct and typical cases of angiosarcoma that were diagnosed in a single dermatology clinic over the course of less than a year: i) Angiosarcoma in lower limb affected by chronic lymphedema, featuring Stewart-Treves syndrome; ii) a case of the most common type of angiosarcoma loated in the scalp and face of elderly man and; iii) a skin Angiosarcoma in previously irradiated breast. All lesions presented characteristic histopathological findings: irregular vascular proliferation that dissects the collagen bundles with atypical endothelial nuclei projection toward the lumen.

El sistema inmune en los linfedemas y linfangitis de los miembros inferiores / The immune system in lymphedema and lymphangitis of the lower limbs

El sistema inmune es el mecanismo de resistencia del organismo ante las infecciones. El sistema linfático juega un importante papel en el control fisiológico del fluido tisular y en la iniciación de la respuesta inmune. Nos proponemos describir la función de los componentes celulares del sistema inmune en las linfopatías de miembros inferiores no asociadas a cánceres tales como el linfedema y la linfangitis.Se revisaron las bases de datos PubMed, MedLine, SciELO, Clinical Key, Liliacs, Ebsco y artículos científicos publicados en revistas cubanas entre 2000-2015. Los estudios recientes muestran que el crecimiento de nuevos vasos linfáticos es una característica distintiva de las reacciones inflamatorias agudas y crónicas que caracterizan a las linfopatías, mediado por un incremento en el drenaje del fluido fuera del vaso y de células inflamatorias, así como de la modulación de las respuestas inmunes. Es apremiante continuar investigando, específicamente en lo concerniente al comportamiento de la inmunidad humoral y celular en los pacientes que padecen de linfedema o linfangitis, pues no se encontraron trabajos que aborden de manera específica la posible relación entre ambos. Se sugiere que las subpoblaciones de células T son un componente crítico en la respuesta celular inflamatoria crónica y subaguda en las linfopatías. La comprensión de la función reguladora del fluido linfático en la respuesta inflamatoria puede dar un importante paso en el desarrollo de tratamientos que puedan bloquear el inicio o la progresión de las consecuencias anómalas de las lesiones linfáticas(AU)

The immune system is the body´s mechanism of resistance to infections. The lymph system plays an important role in the physiological control of the tissue fluid and in the onset of the immune response. We intended to describe the function of the cell components of the immune system in the cancer-unrelated lymphopathies of the lower limbs such as lymphedema and lymphangitis. To this end, Pubmed, Medline, Scielo, Clinical Key, Liliacs, Ebsco and scientific articles published in Cuban medical journals from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed. The recent studies show that the growth of new lymphatic vessels is a distinctive characteristic of the acute and chronic inflammatory reactions of lymphopathies, mediated by increase of the fluid drainage outside the vessel and of inflammatory cells as well as the immune response modulations. It is urgent to continue studying this topic, mainly the behavior of the humoral and cell immunity in patients suffering from lymphedema or lymphangitis, since no research papers dealing with the possible relation between both aspects were found. It is suggested that the T-cell subpopulations are a key component of the chronic and sub-acute inflammatory response in lymphopaties. Hence, understanding of the regulating function of the lymph fluid in the inflammatory response may represent an important step in the development of therapies that might block the onset or progression of the anomalous consequences of lymphatic injures(AU)

Multiple metastatic basal cell carcinoma with concurrent metastatic pleomorphic sarcoma in chronic lymphedema area: case report / Carcinoma basocelular múltiplo e metastático concomitante a sarcoma pleomórfico e metástatico em área de linfedema crônico: relato de caso

Chronic lymphedema presents as interstitial fluid retention due to a failure in the lymphatic system drainage. The affected region becomes more vulnerable immunologically and predisposed to the onset of neoplasms. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common sort of neoplasm, nevertheless it rarely metastisizes. Sarcomas are malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, locally aggressive, which can spread. Here is reported an infrequent case of multiple basal cell carcinoma, synchronous to a poorly differentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, both spreading to lymph nodes and arising from tissue compromised by chronic lymphedema.

Linfedema crônico se manifesta pelo acúmulo de líquido intersticial por falha da drenagem linfática. A região afetada torna-se imunologicamente vulnerável e predisposta ao desenvolvimento de neoplasias. Carcinoma basocelular é a neoplasia maligna mais comum, entretanto raramente metastatiza. Sarcomas são neoplasias mesenquimais malignas, localmente agressivas e capazes de metastatizar. Apresentamos um caso raro de múltiplos carcinomas basocelulares concomitantes a sarcoma pleomórfico pouco diferenciado, metastáticos para linfonodos, originando-se em área de linfedema crônico.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic lymphedema: case report and review of the literature / Surgimento de carcinoma escamocelular a partir de linfedema crônico: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

CONTEXT: Squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic lymphedema has only been reported in the literature 11 times (12 cases). Some aspects of its pathogenesis remain unclear and, for the first time, attention has been drawn to epidemiological data. CASE REPORT: A 90-year-old white female with chronic unilateral lower-limb lymphedema, secondary to trauma 20 years earlier, presented with a three-month history of a vegetating cutaneous lesion. There had not been any previous local ulceration. The tumor was completely excised and the histopathological analysis showed that it was an infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma. A literature review in the Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) and Lilacs (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde) databases using the MeSH (Medical Subject Heading) terms "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell" AND "Lymphedema" identified 112 references and found 12 similar case reports.

CONTEXTO: O crescimento de carcinoma de células escamosas a partir de linfedema crônico foi relatado apenas 11 vezes na literatura (12 casos). Aspectos sobre sua patogênese ainda não foram completamente elucidados e pela primeira vez chama-se atenção para os dados epidemiológicos. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, branca, 90 anos de idade, portadora de linfedema crônico unilateral de membro inferior secundário a trauma sofrido há 20 anos, apresentou história de lesão cutânea vegetante de três meses. Não havia relato de lesão local prévia. O tumor foi completamente excisado e sua análise histopatológica mostrou tratar-se de carcinoma escamocelular infiltrante. Uma revisão da literatura nos bancos de dados Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) e Lilacs (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), utilizando-se dos termos MeSH (Medical Subject Heading) "Carcinoma, Squamous Cell" AND "Lymphedema", identificou 112 citações e encontrou relatos de 12 casos semelhantes.