[Lymphedema in primary care: review of 6 cases]

To study primary care lymphedemas. To outline the differential diagnosis and treatment of late idiopathic lymphedemas.

Six clinical observations (descriptive).

Casa del Barco Health Centre. Valladolid.

Six patients who attended for treatment with oedemas in their extremities.

Anamnesis and physical investigation provided the provisional diagnosis. Analytic, echographic and radiological tests, along with internal consultation with Vascular Surgery, oriented the diagnostic impression towards idiopathic lymphedemas; and the histology tests oriented towards secondary ones. A lymphogammagraphy was not performed to confirm the diagnosis, as the diagnosis had already been reached by process of exclusion in the first tests.

Lymphoedema is one of the causes of oedema in the extremities. Anamnesis and physical investigation is fundamental to the clinical diagnosis of lymphatic failure. Other complementary tests (analytic, radiological and histological studies, etc.) are necessary in order to reach an aetiological diagnosis and thus a correct treatment. The definitive diagnosis in idiopathic lymphedemas is provided by a lymphogammagraphy, although this is rarely indicated; and in secondary ones by the tests aimed at showing the cause. Conservative therapeutic measures (hygienic, compressive, physiotherapeutic and pharmacological) avoid advance in Late Idiopathic Lymphoedema, with surgical treatment only being needed in a low percentage of cases. The treatment for Secondary Lymphoedema will be the treatment of its cause.