Lymphedema - the long way to diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Primary leg lymphedema is diagnosed late in many cases, especially in younger women.

A Lymphedema Self-Management Programme: Report on 30 Cases

“…3 The etiology of lymphedema may be a primary dysfunction of the lymphatic system; it may also be secondary to cancer treatments that include the removal of lymph nodes and/or radiation therapy (e.g., breast, gynecological, or prostate cancers; melanoma; sarcoma) or to venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, orthopaedic trauma, and more. 1,4 The incidence of cancer-related lymphe-dema varies by etiology and definition and is considered to be between 6% and 63%. 5 The International Society of Lymphology defines four stages of lymphedema: latent (no noticeable swelling), stage 1 (visible swelling that resolves with elevation), stage 2 (visible swelling that does not resolve with elevation), and stage 3 or elephantiasis (progression to fibrosclerotic changes of the skin).…”

Mapping the lymphatic system across body scales and expertise domains: A report from the 2021 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop at the Boston Lymphatic Symposium

“…In a self-perpetuating manner, the challenges of visualizing the lymphatic system either grossly or with imaging and gaps in biomolecular signatures has been further exacerbated by insufficient coverage of this topic in medical education and training ( Granger et al, 2004 ). Such knowledge gaps amongst clinicians have significant implications on patient care as, for example, early accurate detection of lymphatic disease can improve clinical outcomes ( Blome et al, 2013 ; Rockson, 2018 ). Furthermore, left untreated, lymphatic dysfunction can increase a patient’s risk for cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases and significantly impact their emotional and mental wellbeing ( Fu et al, 2013 ; Mortimer and Rockson, 2014 ).…”