Lymphedema

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

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• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

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Summary

Lymphedema is the name of a type of swelling. It happens when lymph builds up in your body's soft tissues. Lymph is a fluid that contains white blood cells that defend against germs. It can build up when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. It usually happens in the arms or legs.

Causes of lymphedema include:

• Infection
• Cancer
• Scar tissue from radiation therapy or surgical removal of lymph nodes
• Inherited conditions in which lymph nodes or vessels are absent or abnormal

Treatment can help control symptoms. It includes exercise, compression devices, skin care, and massage.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Guide to Understanding Lymphedema (Living Beyond Breast Cancer) - PDF
• Lymphedema (Lymphatic Education & Research Network)
• Lymphedema (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Lymphedema (PDQ)-Patient Version (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Lymphoscintigraphy (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Treatment of Lymphedema (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• For People With Lymphedema (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Lymphatic Filariasis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

• Lymphedema as a Cancer Treatment Side Effect (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Genetics

• Hennekam syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Meige disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymphedema (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Lymph Leakage Promotes Immunosuppression by Enhancing Anti-Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization.
• Article: TGF-β1 mediates pathologic changes of secondary lymphedema by promoting fibrosis and...
• Article: Treatment of Early-Stage Gynecological Cancer-Related Lower Limb Lymphedema by Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis-The...
• Lymphedema -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Lymphatic Education & Research Network
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• National Lymphedema Network

Women

• Lymphedema (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Compression stockings (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymphatic obstruction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymphedema - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish