Two Different Physiotherapy Programs in Lymphedema Following Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

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Head and neck cancer (HNC) have been seen in 13.3/100,000 males and 2.8/100,000 in females in Turkey. HNC related treatments such as lymph node dissection, tumor excision, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and cancer itself can cause head and neck lymphedema (HNL). The incidence of HNL due to HNC treatmen...

Head and neck cancer (HNC) have been seen in 13.3/100,000 males and 2.8/100,000 in females in Turkey. HNC related treatments such as lymph node dissection, tumor excision, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and cancer itself can cause head and neck lymphedema (HNL). The incidence of HNL due to HNC treatments (surgery, chemotherapy and chemoradiation) has been reported to be between 48% and 90%. A recognition of HNL has been growing in recent years, but HNL is still much less recognized than upper and lower limb lymphedema and is easily ignored by both patients and health care providers. Therefore, in many cases, the diagnosis and treatment of HNL may be delayed, or patients cannot access treatment. In routine practice, after HNC, the self-absorption of HNL is generally expected. Clinical experiences have confirmed that HNL develops 2-6 months after cancer treatment and regresses in some patients over time. A variety of physiotherapy approaches have been shown to prevent and minimize physical, functional, emotional, and social disorders resulting from HNL. However, complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) is considered a gold standard treatment method for lymphedema. This method consists of manual lymph drainage (MLD), skin care, compression therapy, and therapeutic exercises. Although there are many studies about the effects of CDP on upper and lower limbs, there is only a limited number of studies about HNL and CDP in the literature.

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