title: Clinical and diagnostic aspects of lymphedema.
abstract: Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive, and common but often unrecognized condition. The diagnosis of lymphatic disease on clinical grounds alone remains a challenge. Without proper diagnosis, therapy is often delayed, allowing disease progression. There is a need for a practical diagnostic algorithm and its imaging technique to guide clinical decision-making. The aim of this topical review is to provide a practical approach for assessing patients with suspected lymphedema and to give a critical appraisal of currently available imaging modalities that are applied in clinical practice to diagnose and map lymphatic disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, and Hirslanden Clinic, Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hong H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Keo
authors.affiliation: 2 Angiologie Oberaargau, St. Urbanstrasse 67, Langenthal, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silvia B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gretener
authors.affiliation: 3 Clinical and Interventional Angiology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staub
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008220:Lymphography; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
keywords: Leg swelling; accuracy; fluorescence; lymphedema; lymphoscintigraphy