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Pathophysiology of seroma in breast cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Seroma is the most common complication of mastectomy. The aim of this systematic review is to clarify the pathophysiology of seroma.

Materials and Methods

A computer-assisted MEDLINE search was conducted, and additional references were found in the bibliographies of these articles. The reference terms “breast cancer”, “mastectomy”, “seroma”, “lymphocele” and “lymphocyst” were used as both keyword and subject terms. The search was limited to studies published in English.

Results

The definition of seroma was highly variable across studies, but was most commonly a seroma large enough to be noticed by the patient or medical staff and affecting the patient’s satisfaction in the immediate or acute postoperative period. So far, only limited data are available on the severity of seroma. With respect to the pathophysiology of seroma, the data indicated that several anatomical factors, especially dead space, likely contribute to seroma formation. However, it was obscure whether seroma was due to lymph-like fluid or exudate.

Conclusion

There is considerable variability in the way seroma is defined across studies, and its pathophysiology remains uncertain.

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Abbreviations

BCT:

Breast conserving therapy

IR:

Immediate reconstruction

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

MRM:

Modified radical mastectomy

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Showa University Toyosu Hospital, 4-1-18 Toyosu, 135-8577, Koutou-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Katsumasa Kuroi

  2. Department of Healthcare and Social Services, University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences, Japan

    Kojiro Shimozuma

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

    Tetsuya Taguchi

  4. Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan

    Hirohisa Imai

  5. Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Disease Center Komagome Hospital, Japan

    Hiroyasu Yamashiro

  6. Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, Japan

    Shozo Ohsumi

  7. Department of Health Science, Kochi Women’s University, Japan

    Shinya Saito

Authors
  1. Katsumasa Kuroi
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  2. Kojiro Shimozuma
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  3. Tetsuya Taguchi
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  4. Hirohisa Imai
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  5. Hiroyasu Yamashiro
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  6. Shozo Ohsumi
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  7. Shinya Saito
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Correspondence to Katsumasa Kuroi.

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Kuroi, K., Shimozuma, K., Taguchi, T. et al. Pathophysiology of seroma in breast cancer. Breast Cancer 12, 288–293 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2325/jbcs.12.288

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2325/jbcs.12.288

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