Impact of lower limb lymphedema on quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection

Objective: To evaluate the impact of lower limb lymphedema (LLL) on quality of life (QOL) in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer survivors after pelvic lymph node dissection. Study design: A cross-sectional case-control study was performed using the Korean version of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ-K) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). In total, 25 women with LLL and 28 women without LLL completed both questionnaires. Results: The GCLQ-K total symptom score and scores for swelling-general, swelling-limb, and heaviness were significantly higher in the LLL group than in the control group. In the EORTC QLQ-C30, the LLL group reported more financial difficulties compared to the control group (mean score, 16.0 vs. 6.0; P = 0.035). Global health status was poorer in the LLL group with borderline statistical significance (mean score, 62.7 vs. 71.4; P = 0.069). Spearman's correlations suggested that global health status in the EORTC QLQ-C30 correlated with the GCLQ-K total symptom score (in the LLL group, R = -0.64, P = 0.001; in the control group, R = -0.42, P = 0.027). Conclusions: QOL decreases due to LLL-related symptoms and financial difficulty in women with LLL. Well-designed prospective studies are required to confirm these findings. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.