Abstract
Head and neck lymphedema (HNL) can range from mild to severe and may affect speech, swallowing, vision, and respiration. Unlike other types of edema, however, damage to the lymphatic system impairs spontaneous reduction of the fluid load in the tissues, so lymphedema typically becomes a significant chronic health condition. HNL management typically involves a combination of manual therapy techniques and tissue compression strategies. Treatment is intended to soften and reduce swollen tissues by redirecting fluid from edematous regions to an adjacent area with improved lymphatic drainage. Treatment can be very effective in reducing lymphedema, and the results can be dramatic, with pronounced improvements in both physical appearance and function. Over time, many individuals with HNL improve sufficiently, thus, minimizing treatment so lymphedema no longer remains a chronic problem. Speech pathologists who treat a high volume of head and neck cancer patients typically experience increased exposure to HNL and may have a greater understanding of its impact on the patient’s function and psychosocial status than other professionals with less exposure. This chapter strives to provide a general overview of HNL and its management and to better educate and prepare speech pathologists who encounter these patients.
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Notes
- 1.
A comprehensive review of these levels can be found at the following website: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/lymph-node-levels-of-the-neck
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Smith, B.G. (2019). Lymphedema in Head and Neck Cancer. In: Doyle, P. (eds) Clinical Care and Rehabilitation in Head and Neck Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04702-3_22
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