Manual Lymph Drainage for External Lymphedema
The Effect of Manual Lymph Drainage for Cancer Treatment-related External Lymphedema in the Head and Neck - a Pilot and Feasibility Study of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Lund University
40 participants
Oct 1, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This study will evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial. The future randomized controlled trial will compare two groups following different intensities of manual lymphatic drainage for external head- and neck lymphedema among persons treated with radiotherapy for head- and neck cancer.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- • a previous diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer (all histological types are accepted)
- curative treatment with (chemo)radiotherapy to at least 68Gy at the primary site completed no more than 1 year before the study inclusion
- age \>18 years
- ability to give written and informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria7
- • pregnancy
- surgery or Botox injections in the tissue of the head and neck area
- Locoregional deep infection i.e., suspected abscess at the scheduled time points for measurements.
- prior daily treatment with Self MLD
- other treatment of head and neck lymphedema, for example compression
- psychiatric disorders
- substance abuse problems
Interventions
Manual Lymph Drainage 20 completions, first over the neck, then the face, and finally the neck again. This is repeated every second hour during the daytime.
Manual Lymph Drainage 20 completions, first over the neck, then the face, and finally the neck again once a day.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT07215169