title: Massive Localized Lymphedema in the Morbidly Obese Patient: A Clinical Entity Mimicking Lymphosarcoma.
abstract: Massive localized lymphedema (MLL) is a rare benign soft tissue lesion that develops in morbidly obese patients, most commonly on the medial thigh (though other locations have also been described). The cause of MLL remains unknown, but the common denominator in all reported cases is obesity. The diagnosis of MLL is usually made based on clinical history and presentation but it is believed to be underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness of this distinct entity. When left untreated, MLL can degenerate into angiosarcoma. This report describes a case of MLL of the right lower abdominal wall in an obese 61-year-old female (BMI = 42 kg/m(2)).
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dainora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cepaityte
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sapalidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kanellos
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome