Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this explorative study was to evaluate the impact of selenium in the treatment of lymphedema after radiotherapy. Methods and materials: Between 6/1996 and 6/2001, 12 patients with arm edema and 36 with edema of the head and neck region were treated with selenium for therapy-related lymphedema. Of these 36 patients, 20 had interstitial endolaryngeal edema associated with stridor and dyspnea. All patients received sodium selenite for 4 – 6 weeks. Results: Self-assessment using a visual analogue scale (n = 48) showed a reduction of 4.3 points when comparing pre- and posttreatment values (p < 0.05). Of 20 patients with endolaryngeal edema, 13 underwent no, 5 a temporary and only 2 a permanent tracheostomy; 10 of 12 patients with arm edema showed a circumference reduction of the edematous limb and improvement in the skin fold index by 23.3 points. An improvement of one stage or more was shown by the Földi or the Miller score (n = 28) in 22 (Földi score) and in 24 (Miller score) patients. Conclusion: Treatment with sodium selenite is well-tolerated and easy to deliver. Additionally, our results suggest that sodium selenite has a positive effect on secondary developing lymphedema caused by radiation therapy alone or irradiation after surgery.

Author Details

Authors

• O. Micke¹,⁴
• F. Bruns¹,⁴
• R. Mücke²,⁴
• U. Schäfer¹,⁴
• M. Glatzel³,⁴
• A.F. DeVries⁵
• K. Schönekaes⁴
• K. Kisters⁴,⁶
• J. Büntzel⁴,⁷

Departments

• ¹ Department of Radiotherapy, Münster University Hospital, Münster,
• ² Department of Radiotherapy, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Weiden Municipal Hospital,
• ³ Department of Radiotherapy, Suhl Central Hospital, Suhl,
• ⁴ German Working Group Trace Ele

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