[How to quantify limb edema?]

Edema of venous or lymphatic origin is frequently encountered in vasculopathies. Clinical diagnosis is readily made but precise quantification of edema is difficult. Various procedures have been proposed to quantify edema volume or analyze its composition. Water volumetry remains the gold standard but volumetry calculated with formulas from circumferential measurements for a cylinder or frustum methods are reproducible with high interrater and intrarater reliability. Automated measurement systems are expensive and reserved for research. Ideally, volume measurements for a given patient during the follow-up should be made by the same practitioner using the same method because the different methods are not interchangeable. Notably, edema composition can be evaluated by high frequency ultrasound, CT-scan, MRI or bioimpedance. Edema quantification is essential during patient follow-up and the method to be used depends on the objectives to be met.