Also called: Also called: Lymphatic obstruction
The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs. It is made up mainly of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and lymph. Lymph vessels, which are different from blood vessels, carry fluid called lymph throughout your body.
The lymphatic system collects excess fluid and proteins from body tissues and carries them back to the bloodstream. Edema, or swelling, may happen when there is an increase in the amount of fluid or because of a blockage in the lymphatic system. The accumulation of lymph is called lymphedema.
Causes of lymphedema include
- Infection
- Cancer
- Scar tissue from radiation therapy or surgical removal of lymph nodes
- Inherited conditions in which lymph nodes or vessels are absent or abnormal
Treatment includes physical methods, such as compression stockings, and medicines.
National Cancer Institute
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Lymphedema (PDQ)
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/lymphedema/Patient/page2
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/cuidados-medicos-apoyo/linfedema/Patient/page2
- Lymphedema(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Lymphedema.html
- Lymphedema: A Brief Overview(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/overview.htm
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Lymphoscintigraphy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=lympho
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=lympho
- Lymphedema Risk Reduction Practices(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/riskReduction/riskReduction.htm
- Emotional Effects of Arm Lymphedema(Breastcancer.org) - http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/lymphedema/emotional.jsp
- Arm Lymphedema(Breastcancer.org) - http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/lymphedema/index.jsp
- Understanding Lymphedema (For Cancers Other Than Breast Cancer)(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_7_2x_Understanding_Lymphedema.asp
- Cool Tips for a Hot Summer(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/riskReduction/summerTips.htm
- Lymph Node Removal(Breastcancer.org) - http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/lymph_node_removal/index.jsp
- Tips for Travel and Aircraft Flight(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/riskReduction/travelTips.htm
- Atlas of the Body: The Lymphatic System(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZG0S6CGJC&sub_cat=518
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymphedema(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Lymphedema%22
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Moderate Weight Training Won't Worsen Lymphedema After Breast Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/lymphedema0706
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Conclusions of the meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18788147&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18788146&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Localized tissue water changes accompanying one manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18720916&tool=MedlinePlus
- Lymphedema -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=lymphedema[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- lymphatic obstruction - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=lymphatic+obstruction
- Find Treatment for Lymphedema(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/resourceGuide/resourceGuide.htm
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- National Lymphedema Network - http://www.lymphnet.org/
- Lymphedema: Legislative Updates(National Lymphedema Network) - http://www.lymphnet.org/lymphedemaFAQs/legislation/legUpdates/legUpdates.htm
- Lymphatic Malformation(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1256/mainpageS1256P0.html
- Lymphedema: What Every Woman with Breast Cancer Should Know(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_7_2x_Lymphedema_and_Breast_Cancer.asp
- Edema - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/edema.html
- Lymphatic Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lymphaticdiseases.html
- Blood, Heart and Circulation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodheartandcirculation.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Lymphedema is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/