lymphedema / lymphoedema

see also:

• the patient with swollen leg(s)
• lipoedema
• obesity and weight management
• the obese patient in the ED

• often confused with obesity or lipoedema

• congenital lymphedema (Milroy disease)
  • AD disorder;
  • accounts for 10-25% of primary cases
  • starts in 1st yr of life, usually painless, pitting oedema
• lymphedema praecox (Meige disease)
  • 65-80% of primary cases
  • usually arises before puberty
  • 70% are unilateral
  • females 4x males
• lymphedema tarda
  • usually starts in those older than 35yrs
  • 10% of primary cases
• other primary conditions with lymphedema a feature:
  • Distichiasis lymphedema syndrome
  • yellow nail syndrome
  • Turner syndrome
  • Noonan syndrome
  • Klinefelter syndrome
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1
  • Hemangiomas
  • Xanthomatosis
  • Congenital absence of nails

• tumour
• radiotherapy
• surgery
• morbid obesity and weight management
• post-infection:
  • filariasis
• deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
• varicose veins
• congestive cardiac failure
• portal hypertension
• burns
• insect bites
• extrinsic pressure