Lymphoedema remains a significant clinical problem, with 1:5 women in this sample developing the condition following treatment for breast cancer. Risk factors are identified in the development of lymphoedema that should be taken into account in clinical practice.

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Lymphoedema is an incurable and debilitating condition which has a negative impact on the quality of life of the sufferer and his/her family. Information with regards to diagnosis and treatment is often scarce and conflicting in nature. The following series of articles should enable nurses to recognize the condition, provide basic information to a patient and instigate treatment though referral. The first article describes the anatomy, physiology and functions of the lymphatic system. The focus is on the parts of the lymphatic system which are specific to the condition of lymphoedema and aims to place subsequent articles in context. The following articles describe the different types of lymphoedema and the four main elements of treatment that are central to the management of the condition.

This article, the last in the series on lymphoedema, presents a survey of priorities in lymphoedema research conducted among lymphoedema treatment practitioners in the UK. Using a two-stage survey method, members of the British Lymphology Society were asked to identify areas lacking in a good evidence base which were crucial for informing clinical decision-making and service developments. Nine priority research questions were identified by the practitioners, with general agreement among respondents of the ranking order. The highest-ranking questions were: (1) What are the risk factors associated with lymphoedema? (2) How do we best treat skin infection/inflammation? (3) How effective is manual lymphatic drainage compared to other treatments?