Johansson, K; Chong, H; Ciornei, C-D; Brorson, H; Mortimer, PS
(2020)
Axillary Web Syndrome: Evidence for Lymphatic Origin with Thrombosis.
Lymphat Res Biol, 18 (4).
pp. 329-332.
ISSN 1557-8585
https://doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2019.0074
SGUL Authors: Mortimer, Peter Sydney
![]() |
Microsoft Word (.docx)
Accepted Version
Available under License ["licenses_description_publisher" not defined]. Download (35kB) |
Abstract
Background: The axillary web syndrome (AWS) occurs in the axilla and on the frontal side of the upper arm and sometimes along the forearm to the thumb. The cord is painful, particularly on movement, and can therefore be very distressing for the patient. Although the phenomenon has been examined and discussed for decades, no evidence for the origin has been found until now. The aim of this study was to perform a histopathologic analysis of cords taken between 1996 and 1998 in the Surgical Clinic, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Methods and Results: In seven patients, biopsies of the AWS cords were obtained 4-5 weeks after axillary node surgery for breast cancer and examined with standard hematoxylin and eosin and D2-40 (lymphatic endothelial cell) staining. In one biopsy, there was a dilated vessel with a thickened wall, which was confirmed by D2-40 immunostaining to represent a lymphatic vessel. The lumen was occluded by organized thrombus, within which new vessels were being formed, indicating recanalization. In two other biopsies, similar lymphatic vessels with thickened walls were present, although the lumen of the vessels was not visualized in the planes of the section. The other four biopsies do not show specific features. Conclusion: Although only one case, this is the first pathological evidence of thrombosis within a confirmed lymphatic vessel from a case of cording. We propose that the axillary cord represents lymphatic vessel thrombosis. Recanalization of the thrombus may eventually restore lymphatic flow consistent with the transient nature of the condition.
Item Type: | Article | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional Information: | Final publication is available from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2019.0074 | ||||||
Keywords: | axillary cord, breast cancer, lymphatic thrombosis, pain, lymphatic thrombosis, axillary cord, breast cancer, pain, Oncology & Carcinogenesis, 1107 Immunology | ||||||
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: | Academic Structure > Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute (MCS) Academic Structure > Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute (MCS) > Cell Sciences (INCCCS) |
||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Lymphat Res Biol | ||||||
ISSN: | 1557-8585 | ||||||
Language: | eng | ||||||
Dates: |
|
||||||
Publisher License: | Publisher's own licence | ||||||
PubMed ID: | 31880509 | ||||||
Web of Science ID: | WOS:000504695300001 | ||||||
Go to PubMed abstract | |||||||
URI: | https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/111555 | ||||||
Publisher's version: | https://doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2019.0074 |
Statistics
Actions (login required)
![]() |
Edit Item |