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Aetiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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The most common cause of lymphoedema in the UK is malignancy or its treatment. The most common cause world-wide is filiariasis (affects around 90 million people) (2).

Primary causes include:

  • truly congenital conditions such as Milroy's disease, which may be precipitated by trauma, pregnancy, and infection
  • developmental abnormalities such as Turner's syndrome

Secondary causes:

  • recurrent lymphangitis - from erysipelas, chronic venous ulceration
  • lymphatic obstruction - from tumour, tuberculosis, filariasis
  • lymphatic destruction - from tumour, surgery, radiotherapy
  • lymphatic removal - from surgery e.g. radical mastectomy
  • others - in association with conditions such as yellow nail syndrome, rosacea

Reference:


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