Want to create interactive content? It’s easy in Genially!

Get started free

Lymphedema

Corie Malitz

Created on November 5, 2025

Start designing with a free template

Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:

Create Your Story in Spanish

Microcourse: Key Skills for University

Microcourse: Learn Spanish

History Timeline

Education Timeline

Body Parts Game

Resource Bank

Transcript

Lymphedema

Anatomy & Physiology

Management

Complete Decongestive Therapy

Pathologies

Lymphedema

Lymphedema

Stages & Severity

Differential Dx & Examination

Anatomy & Physiology

Vessel/Smooth Muscle Contraction

Interstitial fluid entering system

Lymph

Accessory Muscle Contraction

Collects waste, assists immune response

Breathing Pressure Changes (diaphragm)

10-20% of intersittial fluid collected

Dermal Mechanism Stimulation

Flow Mechanisms

Nodes, Tonsils, Thymus, Spleen

Lymphatic Organs & Tissues

Physiology Concepts

Lymphatic Loads (amount transported)

Thoracic duct, bone marrow

MALT (Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue)

Transport Capacity (max amount transported)

Capillaries->Collect-> Nodes (Filter)

Major Lymph Nodes

Lymph flow/Circulation

Cervical, Submaxillary

Trunks->Collecting ducts-> Subclavian Veins-> Venous System

Axillary (Apical, Lateral, Anterior)

R Lymphatic Duct (Ue, Neck, U Trunk)

Inguinal (superficial), Illiac, Mesenteric

Thoracic Duct (all esle)

Popliteal, Cubital, Superclavicular, Parasternal

Pathologies (Lymphedema)

Pitting Edema (Early Stages)

Non-pitting, fibrous (later stage/Brawney)

Definition
Clinical Presentation

Chronic disorder

Heaviness/Fullness in extremity

Abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid (10% increase)

Dermal abnormalities

Increased callulitus/Infection risk

Disturbances of water and protein

+ Stemmer Sign (stage II or III)

Milroy's disease (congenital, Autosomal, B LE)

Most Common

Primary Lymphedema (Congenital/Hereditary)
Secondary Lymphedema (Aquired/Injury)

Lymphedema Praecox (Meige disease)

Causes: CA, Surgery, Radiation

Lymphedema Tarda

Other Causes: Trauma, Fibrosis, Infection, Chronic Venous Insufficency)

Hypoplasia, Hyperplasia, Aplasia

Outside US Causes: Filariases

Lymphedema Stages & Severity

Stage 0

Pitting Edema

Stages

Edema Types by Severity

Stage I

Brawney Edema

Stage II

Weeping Edema

Stage III

Edema Grading

Pitting Scale

Differential Dx & Examination

Lipedemia (Comparison)
Lymph Node Palpation

Normal: soft, non-tender, non-palpable

Tender: inflamation/infection

Fixed, hard, non-tender: malignancy

Diagnostic Tests

Girth Measurements

Examination Measures

Lymphoscintigraphy

Volumetric measurement

Bioimpedance

Doppler Ultrasound

Stemmer sign test

Management -Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

Malignancies

minimize lymphedema

Goal

Renal failure

Return to latency

contraindications (MLD/compression)

acute infection (cellulitus)

Manual lymphatic Drainage

Acute DVT

Phase I (intensive phase)

Multiple layer compression bandaging

Cardiac Edema

skin & nail care

PAD

exercise

MLD

Self MLD

Phase II (Maintenance phase)

Key Components

Compression Therapy

Compression therapy

skin & nail care

exercise

exercise