Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for Treatment of Head and Neck Lymphedema

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult (greater than or equal to 18 years of age) patients previously treated with definitive surgical resection and/or radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for oral and/or oropharyngeal cancer who are at least 1 month posttreatment will be eligible for enrollment.
2. Patients who meet the above requirement and are also diagnosed with head and neck lymphedema by their physician will be eligible for participation in the prospective phase of the study.
3. Patients will be free of acute tissue reactions including oral mucositis, skin breakdown, and fistula prior to inclusion in the prospective phase of the study.
4. Patients will have baseline Thyroid Stimulating Hormone testing prior to inclusion in the prospective phase of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are actively being treated for head and neck cancer.
2. Patients whose cancer treatment was administered with palliative intent.
3. Patients with recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer, or persistent disease. Patients who have a persistent neck mass at completion of primary radiotherapy that necessitates salvage neck dissection will be ineligible for enrollment until 1 month (6 weeks) following neck dissection.
4. Patients with any of the following contraindications to lymphedema therapy: acute infection, active cancer, congestive heart failure, renal failure, cardiac or pulmonary edema, sensitive carotid sinus, severe carotid blockage, and uncontrolled hypertension.
5. Patients with edema related to hypothyroidism.