Clinical and diagnostic aspects of lymphedema

Vasa. 2017 Jul;46(4):255-261. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000622. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Abstract

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive, and common but often unrecognized condition. The diagnosis of lymphatic disease on clinical grounds alone remains a challenge. Without proper diagnosis, therapy is often delayed, allowing disease progression. There is a need for a practical diagnostic algorithm and its imaging technique to guide clinical decision-making. The aim of this topical review is to provide a practical approach for assessing patients with suspected lymphedema and to give a critical appraisal of currently available imaging modalities that are applied in clinical practice to diagnose and map lymphatic disease.

Keywords: Leg swelling; accuracy; fluorescence; lymphedema; lymphoscintigraphy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphedema / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphography
  • Lymphoscintigraphy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex