Lymphedema: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
 
(5 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 22: Line 22:
** Recurrent Skin Infections (eg. [[cellulitis]], [[erysipelas]])
** Recurrent Skin Infections (eg. [[cellulitis]], [[erysipelas]])
** [[Lymphadenitis]]
** [[Lymphadenitis]]
* Obesity
* [[the obese patient|Obesity]]
* Inflammatory disorders
* Inflammatory disorders
** Dermatitis
** Dermatitis
Line 29: Line 29:
*** [[Rheumatoid arthritis]]
*** [[Rheumatoid arthritis]]
*** [[Psoriatic arthritis]]
*** [[Psoriatic arthritis]]
*** Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
*** [[Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis]]


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
Line 37: Line 37:
** Occurs due to cutaneous fibrosis and adipose deposition.
** Occurs due to cutaneous fibrosis and adipose deposition.
* Stemmer Sign - positive if unable to pinch and lift skin at the base of second toe or finger.
* Stemmer Sign - positive if unable to pinch and lift skin at the base of second toe or finger.
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{Unilateral leg swelling DDX}}
==Evaluation==
* Diagnosis is primarily made clinically. See clinical features above.
* Rule out alternative diagnoses (e.g. duplexes to rule out DVT if indicated)
* Additional non-ED studies may include:
** Duplex Ultrasound
** Lymphoscintigraphy
** Computed Tomography
** Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Lymphography
** Indocyanine Green (ICG) Lymphangiography
** Genetic Testing


===Clinical Staging (by International Society of Lymphology) <ref name="ISL">International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2013 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2013; 46:1-11</ref>===
===Clinical Staging (by International Society of Lymphology) <ref name="ISL">International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2013 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2013; 46:1-11</ref>===
Line 74: Line 60:
*NOT reversible with limb elevation alone
*NOT reversible with limb elevation alone
*Some dermal fibrosis present  
*Some dermal fibrosis present  
||
||[[File:2lymphedema.png|70px]][[File:3lymphedema.png|70px]]
|-
|-
| Stage III (severe)||
| Stage III (severe)||
*Lymphostatic elephantiasis (pitting may be absent)  
*Lymphostatic elephantiasis (pitting may be absent)  
*Skin changes such as fat deposits, acanthosis, warty overgrowths
*Skin changes such as fat deposits, acanthosis, warty overgrowths
||
||[[File:4lymphedema.png|70px]]
|}
|}
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{Unilateral leg swelling DDX}}
==Evaluation==
===Workup===
* Rule out alternative diagnoses (e.g. duplexes to rule out DVT if indicated)
* Additional non-ED studies may include:
** [[ultrasound: DVT|Duplex Ultrasound]]
** Lymphoscintigraphy
** Computed Tomography
** Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Lymphography
** Indocyanine Green (ICG) Lymphangiography
** Genetic Testing
===Diagnosis===
* Diagnosis is primarily made clinically.


==Management<ref>Rockson SG. Lymphedema. Am J Med 2001; 110:288-95</ref><ref name="ISL">International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2013 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2013; 46:1-11</ref>==
==Management<ref>Rockson SG. Lymphedema. Am J Med 2001; 110:288-95</ref><ref name="ISL">International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2013 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2013; 46:1-11</ref>==

Latest revision as of 16:22, 29 September 2019

Background

  • Lymphedema is swelling due to abnormal accumulation of interstitial protein rich fluid and fibroadipose tissue.
  • Occurs when lymphatic load exceeds capacity in the lymphatic system

Etiology

Primary[1]

  • Congenital Lymphedema (6-12%) - before age 2
  • Lymphedema Precox (77-94%) - at onset of puberty
  • Lymphedema Tarda (11%) - after age 35

Secondary

Clinical Features

  • Slowly progressive swelling, may be pitting at onset
  • Feeling of heaviness, tightness, or discomfort
  • Severe cases have dermal thickening with skin becoming dry, firm, and hyperkeratotic
    • Occurs due to cutaneous fibrosis and adipose deposition.
  • Stemmer Sign - positive if unable to pinch and lift skin at the base of second toe or finger.

Clinical Staging (by International Society of Lymphology) [3]

Stage Signs & Symptoms Image
Stage 0 (asymptmatic)
  • Generally asymptomatic, although may have feeling of heaviness in limb
  • Swelling not evident on exam
Stage I (mild)
  • Soft edema +/- pitting
  • Fluid accumulation subsides with limb elevation within 24 hours
  • no sign of dermal fibrosis
1lymphedema.png
Stage II (moderate)
  • Pitting present
  • NOT reversible with limb elevation alone
  • Some dermal fibrosis present
2lymphedema.png3lymphedema.png
Stage III (severe)
  • Lymphostatic elephantiasis (pitting may be absent)
  • Skin changes such as fat deposits, acanthosis, warty overgrowths
4lymphedema.png

Differential Diagnosis

Unilateral leg swelling

Differential Diagnosis of Pedal Edema

Evaluation

Workup

  • Rule out alternative diagnoses (e.g. duplexes to rule out DVT if indicated)
  • Additional non-ED studies may include:
    • Duplex Ultrasound
    • Lymphoscintigraphy
    • Computed Tomography
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Lymphography
    • Indocyanine Green (ICG) Lymphangiography
    • Genetic Testing

Diagnosis

  • Diagnosis is primarily made clinically.

Management[4][3]

Example of compression therapy: lymphedema compression sleeve on mannequin
  • General Measures
    • Self-monitoring - for size, sensation, color, temperature, skin condition
    • Limb elevation
    • Diet and exercise - maintain ideal body weight. Recommended to use compression garments during exercise.
    • Avoid skin infection/injury
  • Compression Therapy - bandaging, garments, intermittent pneumatic compression
  • Physiotherapy - manual lymphatic drainage
    • Contraindicated in presence of cellulitis, neoplasm, DVT, moderate-severe heart failure
  • Surgical Referral

Disposition

  • Discharge if uncomplicated

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Szuba A, Rockson SG. Lymphedema: classification, diagnosis and therapy. Vasc Med 1998; 3:145-56
  2. Cormier JN, Askew RL, Mungovan KS, et al. Lymphedema beyond breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cancer-related secondary lymphedema. Cancer 2010; 116:5138-49
  3. 3.0 3.1 International Society of Lymphology. The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral lymphedema: 2013 Consensus Document of the International Society of Lymphology. Lymphology 2013; 46:1-11
  4. Rockson SG. Lymphedema. Am J Med 2001; 110:288-95