Diagnostic approach to lower limb edema
Open accessAbstract
Patients with lower limb edema are frequently referred to vascular specialists for evaluation. Multiple etiologies must be considered and often more than one cause may be present. Notably, the role of lymphatic system regardless of the underlying pathology has been underestimated. A thorough history and physical examination and a carefully considered laboratory and imaging evaluation are critical in differentiating causes. In this opinion article, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that incorporates a systematic approach to the patient with leg swelling and provides an efficient pathway for the differential diagnosis for this problem.
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Lymphoedema can also lead to severe infections, ulcer formation, psychosocial morbidity, and malignant transformation.
“Lymphoedema can also lead to severe infections, ulcer formation, psychosocial morbidity, and malignant transformation.104,105”
From Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [105]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says chronic edema negatively affects psychological health and quality of life, which supports the psychosocial part at a broader level than lymphoedema specifically. The Physical examination section associates ulcerations with advanced venous disease, while the paper does not say lymphoedema leads to severe infections or malignant transformation. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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Research works printed but not linked: 20
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Cited by
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Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity
Rubino, F., Cummings, D. E., Eckel, R. H., Cohen, R. V., Wilding, J. P. H., Brown, W. A., Stanford, F. C., Batterham, R. L., Farooqi, I. S., Farpour-Lambert, N. J., et al. (2025) · The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/s2213-8587(24)00316-4 · Cited by 1,811 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gasparis, A. P., Kim, P. S., Dean, S. M., Khilnani, N. M., & Labropoulos, N.
- Affiliations
- Stony Brook Medicine (US)
- Center for Vein Restoration and Center for Vascular Medicine, Framingham, MA, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
- NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Labropoulos, Nicos
- Venue
- Phlebology: The Journal of Venous Disease
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-07-06
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 650-655
- ISSN
- 0268-3555 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-1125
- PMC
- PMC7536506
- OpenAlex
- W3040765986
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10
- FWCI
- 8.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Lymphatic System and Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Internal Medicine › Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosis and Management
- Keywords
- lower limb edema, leg swelling, differential diagnosis, diagnostic algorithm, lymphatic system, venous disease, lymphedema
- MeSH terms
- Diagnosis, Differential, Diagnostic Imaging, Edema, Humans, Leg, Lymphedema
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