Casley-Smith, J.R. & Casley-Smith, J.R. (1996). Lymphedema initiated by aircraft flights. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, 67(1), 52–56.

To describe reported incidence and triggering factors related to development of lymphedema in patients with lymphedema

Questionnaires were sent to 1,020 patients with lymphedema. The names were taken from the Lymphedema Association of Australia. The questionnaire asked about many aspects of their disease. One of the questions was “What triggered your lymphedema?\" Answer choices were infection, insect bite, plane flight, burn, other, or unknown.

Questionnaires were sent to 1,020 patients with lymphedema. A total of 749 responded to the survey, and 531 of these answered the question about what triggered the lymphedema. Responses were as follows: 41 had the condition since birth, 163 had postmastectomy lymphedemas, 136 had primary and 191 had secondary leg lymphedemas. Of those who did not have the condition since birth (n = 490), 27 claimed that it started during an aircraft flight (15 legs and 12 arms). In addition, flying was the identified cause of existing lymphedema to permanently worsen in 23 arms and 44 legs.