Lymphorrhea in gastric cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: Lymphorrhea defined as the leakage of serous lymphatic fluid in response to lymphatic duct disturbances. It could be resulted either due to malignant neoplasms, abdominal traumas, bacterial peritonitis, pelvic irradiation, peritoneal dialysis, or abdominal tuberculosis. It could also be from iatrogenic causes such as aortic surgery, spinal surgery, and lymph node dissection for various malignancies. Chylorrhea is a form of lymphorrhea, involving digested lipid products absorbed in the small intestine. The incidence of lymphorrhea after gastrectomy is unknown, while chylorrhea with D2 or less dissection is reportedly only 0 -0.4%. In this article we would like to review the incidence, management after gastrectomy for malignant pathology and stress in the different type of lymphatic leak.