Aetiology, Staging, and Diagnosis of Lymphedema
摘要
Lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of protein rich protein fluid in the interstitium, which causes chronic inflammation and reactive fibrosis of the affected tissues. The classification of lymphoedema is based on the aetiology of the Lymphatic disease. Depending on the severity of lymphoedema classified in 4 stages: Latency stage (stage 0). Stage I (reversible Lymphedema), stage II (Spontaneously Irreversible Lymphedema), and stage III (Lymphostatic Elephantiasis). Symptoms and clinical signs of lymphedema are very important for the diagnosis and staging of lymphedema. The diagnosis of lymphedema is supported by the history of the patient and the clinical examination. There are various imaging methods that can give the Differential Diagnosis of Lymphoedema and confirm the diagnosis of lymphoedema, such as lymphoscintigraphy, MRI lymphography, and ultrasound.