National Institute of Lymphology Established by World Renowned Physicians for the Care and Cure of Lymphedema

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Marga F. Massey, MD, CLT, FACS, Founder, and Scott Sullivan, MD, FACS, Chief Clinical Investigator, are proud to announce the establishment of the National Institute of Lymphology.  As a consortium of academic leaders of lymphedema care dedicated to validated clinical outcomes research in the field of lymphology, the National Institute of Lymphology is poised to find the cure for lymphedema.  

Lymphedema is a debilitating condition of localized fluid retention caused by a compromised lymphatic system, which can occur following cancer treatment or infection.  Lymphedema affects over 5 million Americans and is most frequently seen after cancer treatments such as lymph node dissection and/or radiation therapy.  The National Cancer Institute has established that 40% to 50% of node positive breast cancer patients with lymph node removal and radiation therapy develop lifestyle-limiting arm and/or trunk lymphedema for which there is no known cure. Chronic swelling, pain/discomfort, and skin infections are among the symptoms that may be improved with proper decongestive therapy, and in some cases, microsurgical repair.

In 2009, Drs. Sullivan and Massey collaborated to develop a dedicated and comprehensive lymphedema treatment program at the St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans - this Comprehensive Center of Excellence for the Treatment of Lymphedema is the first of it's kind in the United States to incorporate a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of lymphedema complete with dedicated specialists, physiotherapists, and advanced surgical techniques. Through the founding of the National Institute of Lymphology, Massey and Sullivan offer conservative management care for individuals suffering the ill effects of primary and secondary lymphedema in addition to cutting edge surgical interventions such as the Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer in the setting of IRB approved clinical outcomes trials.

Marga F. Massey, MD, CLT, FACS, is an internationally recognized oncologic reconstruction surgeon with a wide range of experience in perforator free flap breast reconstruction and Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer for the treatment of lymphedema.  She is a double-board certified Plastic and General Surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Massey is the Founder of the Dr. Marga Practice Group with Centers in Chicago, Charleston, Salt Lake City and New Orleans with a focus on clinical outcomes research and defining Best Practices in Lymphedema care.  Scott Sullivan, MD, FACS, is the co-founder of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery and the St. Charles Surgical Hospital—the only hospital in the world dedicated to breast reconstruction for women facing breast cancer, where he is pioneering landmark breast reconstruction techniques, including the Immediate Nipple and Areolar Sparing Mastectomy.  Dr. Sullivan is a board certified plastic surgeon and leader in the area of breast reconstructive surgery at a national and international level.

For more information about the National Institute of Lymphology, please visit www.nilymph.com or call 1-312-288-8759.

The Dr. Marga Practice Group Service Information:  Founded by Marga F. Massey, MD, CLT, FACS, the Dr. Marga Practice Group was established to provide best-evidence based breast reconstruction to all women seeking advanced forms of breast reconstruction independent of socioeconomic need and geographic restriction.  Dr. Massey specializes in muscle-sparing microsurgical techniques of breast reconstruction (DIEP, SIEA and GAP Flap Procedures) in addition to Vascularized Lymph Node Transfers (VLNTx) for the treatment of lymphedema.  Dr. Massey has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and has completed additional training as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist.  For more information about the Dr. Marga Practice Group, please visit www.drmarga.com or call 1-866-446-0962.  

Center for Restorative Breast Surgery Service Information: Founded by Frank J. DellaCroce, MD, FACS, and Scott K. Sullivan, MD., FACS, the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery was established to serve as a dedicated resource for women seeking the most advanced methods of breast reconstruction utilizing the body's own tissue. Drs. Sullivan and DellaCroce specialize exclusively in state-of-the-art techniques (DIEP, SIEA and GAP Flap Procedures) that allow for breast reconstruction without sacrifice of important functional muscles. For more information about Center for Restorative Breast Surgery please visit www.breastcenter.com or call 1-888-899-2288.  The Center is located at 1717 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.

SOURCE National Institute of Lymphology

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED