Ann Rehabil Med.  2018 Aug;42(4):626-629. 10.5535/arm.2018.42.4.626.

Late-Onset Post-radiation Lymphedema Provoked by Bee Venom Therapy: A Case Report

• Seo YJ
• Jeong YS
• Park HS
• Park SW
• Choi JY
• Jung KJ
• Lim JY

• KMID: 2420057
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.4.626

Abstract

Lymphedema is a common complication associated with cancer itself or with cancer treatment. Lymphedema infrequently occurs after drug therapy. Bee venom is one of the materials used in acupuncture, and it has been used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases including arthritis. We report a 74-year-old male patient with late-onset post-radiation lymphedema provoked by bee venom therapy. He was free of lymphedema for 5 years after the complete remission of prostate cancer which had been treated with transurethral resection and radiation therapy. The patient developed left leg swelling after undergoing bee venom therapy for left hip pain. Computed tomography and lymphoscintigraphy showed lymphedema without tumor recurrence or infection. The lymphatic system was suspected to be injured by bee venom therapy and lymphedema was provoked. Bee venom therapy should be used cautiously in patients prone to lymphedema.

Keyword

Lymphedema; Bee venoms; Acupuncture

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Aged
Arthritis
Bee Venoms*
Bees*
Drug Therapy
Hip
Humans
Leg
Lymphatic System
Lymphedema*
Lymphoscintigraphy
Male
Prostatic Neoplasms
Recurrence
Bee Venoms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Computed tomography of abdominopelvic area and both lower extremities. Normal lymph nodes (arrow) at the common iliac artery level (A) and left inguinal level (B). (C) Diffuse swelling (arrow) of the subcutaneous tissue in the left lower extremity at the thigh level.

• 

  Fig. 2. Lymphoscintigraphy of both lower extremities. No lymph node activity was found in the left inguinal and iliac chains. Collateral circulation or dermal backflow in the left leg were not found.

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