Clinical features of docetaxel chemotherapy-related lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive, and multifactorial disease. The anticancer drug docetaxel (Taxotere) can lead to fluid retention, which is the main cause of peripheral edema of the extremities, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and ascites in patients undergoing chemotherapy. While there have been a few case reports documenting fluid retention-induced edema as a side effect of docetaxel, it is not yet clear whether docetaxel causes lymphedema directly. Here, we report cases of three patients who developed lymphedema after treatment with docetaxel.