• Lymphedema: due to lymphatic obstruction
  • Primary lymphedema is an inherited or congenital condition
    1. Congenital lymphedema, present at birth or recognized within two years of birth; e.g. Turner syndrome
    2. Lymphedema praecox, occurring at puberty or the beginning of the third decade;
    3. Lymphedema tarda, which begins after 35 years of age.
  • Secondary lymphedema results from insult, injury, or obstruction to the lymphatic system.
    • filariasis caused by infection by Wuchereria bancrofti
    • malignancy or related to the treatment of malignancy. This includes surgical excision of lymph nodes, local radiation treatment, or medical therapy. Breast cancer is the most common cancer associated with secondary lymphedema in developed countries.
• Myxedema: hypothyroidism (generalized), hyperthyroidism (typically pretibial)