Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differential Diagnosis – Lipedema

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lymphedema

Abstract

Lipedema is an infrequently recognized and often neglected clinical entity that nearly always affects women. It poses a diagnostic challenge as one of the common disorders that is easily confused with lymphedema.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Allen EV, Hines EA. Lipedema of the legs: a syndrome characterized by fat legs and orthostatic edema. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1940;15:184-187.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Földi E, Földi M. Das Lipödem. In: Földi M, Kubik S, eds. Lehrbuch der Lymphologie. 5th ed. München-Jena: Gustav Fischer; 2002:449-458.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Langendoen SI, Habbema L, Nijsten TE, Neumann HA. Lipoedema: from clinical presentation to therapy. A review of the literature. Br J Dermatol. 2009;161:980-986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Todd M. Lipoedema: presentation and management. Br J Community Nurs. 2010;15:S10-S16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Meier-Vollrath I, Schneider W, Schmeller W. Lipödem: Verbesserte Lebensqualität durch Therapiekombination. Dtsch Ärtzteblatt. 2005;102:1061-1067.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chen S, Hsu SD, Chen TM, Wang HJ. Painful fat syndrome in a male patient. Br J Plast Surg. 2004;57:282-286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Child AH, Gordon KD, Sharpe P, et al. Lipedema: an inherited condition. Am J Med Genet A. 2010;152A:970-976.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Szolnoky G, Kemeny L. Lipoedema: from clinical presentation to therapy: further aspects. Br J Dermatol. 2010;162:889.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Meier-Vollrath I, Schneider W, Schmeller W. Das Lipödem: neue Möglichkeiten der Therapie. Schweiz Med Forum. 2007;7:150-155.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Herpertz U. Adipositas-Diagnostik in der Lymphologie. LymphForsch. 2009;13:90-93.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Herpertz U. Das Lipödem. Z Lymphol. 1995;19:1-11.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Capeau J, Magré J, Caron-Debarle M, et al. Human lipodystrophies: genetic and acquired diseases of adipose tissue. Endocr Dev. 2010;19:1-20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lange U, Oelzner P, Uhlemann C. Dercum’s disease (Lipomatosis dolorosa): successful therapy with pregabalin and manual lymphatic drainage and a current overview. Rheumatol Int. 2008;29:17-22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Alameda YA, Torres L, Perez-Mitchell C, Riera A. Madelung disease: a clinical diagnosis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;141:418-419.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Verna G, Kefalas N, Boriani F, Carlucci S, Choc I, Bocchiotti M. Launois-Bensaude syndrome: an unusual localization of obesity disease. Obes Surg. 2008;18:1313-1317.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ersek RA, Bell HN. Serial and superficial suction for steatopygia (Hottentot bustle). Aesthetic Plast Surg. 1994;18:279-282.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Eisman JM, Swezey RL. Juxta-articular adiposis dolorosa. What is it? Report of 2 cases. Ann Rheum Dis. 1979;38:479-482.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Streeten DH. Idiopathic edema pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1995;24:531-547.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Szolnoky G, Nagy N, Kovács RK, et al. Complex decongestive physiotherapy decreases capillary fragility in lipedema. Lymphology. 2008;41:161-166.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nemes A, Gavallér H, Csajbók É, Forster T, Csanády M. Obesity is associated with aortic enlargement and increased stiffness: an echocardiographic study. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2008;24:165-171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Schmeller W, Meier-Vollrath I. Schmerzen beim Lipödem: Versuch einer Annäherung. LymphForsch. 2008;12:7-11.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hamner JB, Fleming MD. Lymphedema therapy reduces the volume of edema and pain in patients with breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14:1904-1908.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wong DL, Baker CM. Smiling faces as anchor for pain intensity scales. Pain. 2001;89:295-300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Marshall M, Schwahn-Schreiber C. Lymph-, Lip- und Phlebödem. Differenzialdiagnostische Abklärung mittels hochauflösender Duplexsonographie. Gefässchirurgie. 2008;13:204-212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Naouri M, Samimi M, Atlan M, et al. High resolution cutaneous ultrasonography to differentiate lipoedema from lymphoedema. Br J Dermatol. 2010;163:296-301.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Vaughan BF. CT of swollen legs. Clin Radiol. 1990;41:24-30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dimakakos PB, Stefanopoulos T, Antoniades P. MRI and ultrasonographic findings in the investigation of lymphedema and lipedema. Int Surg. 1997;82:411-416.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lohrmann C, Foeldi E, Langer M. MR imaging of the lymphatic system in patients with lipedema and lipo-lymphedema. Microvasc Res. 2009;77:335-339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Brauer WJ. Altersbezogene Funktionslymphszintigraphie beim Lipödem und Lipolymphödem. LymphForsch. 2000;4:74-77.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Harwood CA, Bull RH, Evans J, Mortimer PS. Lymphatic and venous function in lipedema. Br J Dermatol. 1996;134:1-6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Amann-Vesti BR, Franzeck UK, Bollinger A. Microlymphatic aneurysms in patients with lipedema. Lymphology. 2000;134:170-175.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Deri G, Weissleder H. Vergleichende prä- und posttherapeutische Volumenmessungen in Beinsegmenten beim Lipödem. LymphForsch. 1997;1:35-37.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Szolnoky G, Borsos B, Bársony K, Balogh M, Kemény L. Complete decongestive physiotherapy of lipedema with or without pneumatic compression: a pilot study. Lymphology. 2008;41:50-52.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Schmeller W, Meier-Vollrath I. Tumescent liposuction: a new and successful therapy for lipedema. J Cutan Med Surg. 2006;10:7-10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

    Győző Szolnoky

Authors
  1. Győző Szolnoky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. George Washington University, Washington D.C, Washington, USA

    Byung-Boong Lee

  2. School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    John Bergan

  3. Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, USA

    Stanley G. Rockson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Szolnoky, G. (2011). Differential Diagnosis – Lipedema. In: Lee, BB., Bergan, J., Rockson, S. (eds) Lymphedema. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-567-5_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-567-5_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-566-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-567-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation