Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2026 , Vol 72 , Num 1

A rare case of axillary web syndrome with anterior chest wall extension in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A case report

Feyza Akan Begoğlu 1
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Türkiye DOI : 10.5606/tftrd.2026.17740 Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is an underdiagnosed condition commonly observed after breast cancer surgery involving axillary lymph node dissection. We report the case of a 48-year-old male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who developed left shoulder pain and restricted motion six weeks after an excisional axillary lymph node biopsy. Internal rotation revealed striations along the anterior chest wall, whereas abduction and flexion demonstrated palpable cords extending toward the axilla and cubital region. These findings are consistent with atypical AWS following a minor axillary procedure. This case highlights that AWS is not limited to breast cancer or extensive surgical interventions and underscores the importance of clinical awareness in physical medicine and rehabilitation settings. Keywords : Axillary web syndrome, breast cancer, lymphoma, thrombophlebitis