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Diagnosis of Lymphedema
Signs and Symptoms of Lymphedema
Every patient who has had cancer surgery or radiation in the breast/armpit region, pelvic/groin region, or abdominal region must be very vigilant for early signs of lymphedema. These may include:
- A sense of tightness in the skin of a limb
- A heavy feeling in a limb
- A change in flexibility of joints such as the hand, wrist, or ankle
- Tightness of jewelry such as a ring or bracelet without weight gain
- One limb appearing larger than the other
Clinical features of lymphedema include:
- Localized, soft swelling (edema) of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Subcutaneous tissue changes (fibrotic)
- Skin changes which occur over time including hyperkeratosis (skin thickening) and papillomatosis (rough skin)
- In severe cases, the skin can break down and lymph fluid can escape from the wound which increases the risk of infection
- Swelling is usually painless in the early stage of the disease but some people report pain or sensations of heaviness or aching
- Positive Stemmers sign - skin between 2nd and 3rd toes or fingers cannot be lifted up
- Reduced joint flexibility as the physical weight and size of joint increase resulting in reduced dexterity in daily activities, such as driving and washing.
- Increased skin turgor (an abnormality in the skin's ability to change shape and return to normal; change in elasticity of the skin)
