Under Recognition and Treatment of Lymphedema in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors – A Database Study

A retrospective health care utilization(HCU) analysis of 16,654 patients diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck cancer (HNC) between April 2012 and March 2020.

• Only 66.5% (1,082) of HNC survivors were diagnosed with lymphedema (LED) despite data suggesting >90% occurrence
• HNC survivors diagnosed with LED were highly likely to be provided treatment
  • 80% received 1.5 courses of MLD
  • 13.6% were prescribed compression garments
  • 8.6% received an APCD