The medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of lymphedema.
Family history
- Is there a frequent occurrence of lymphatic system disease in your family?
Social anamnesis
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- When did you notice the circumferential increase?
- Where is the circumferential increase localized? In more than one part of the body?
- Has the situation remained unchanged since then or can the edema be reduced by elevation?
- Can a triggering event be remembered? Surgery? Accident? Etc.?
- Is the swelling painful?
- Are you prone to the formation of hematomas (bruises)?
- Do you often suffer from infections of the affected body region?
- Are there other skin findings, such as erythema (erysipelas,fungal infection, erythroderma),hyperkeratosis, ectaticskin lymphatics, lymphocysts,lymphatic fistulas, fungal infection,skinfold retractions (deepenedskinfolds), etc?
- Did lymphatic outflow occur?
- Do you suffer from shortness of breath, chest tightness on exertion/at rest?* .
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you have good physical capacity? How many floors can you climb stairs without shortness of breath?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (cardiovascular disease, tumor disease, injuries).
- Operations
- Radiotherapy
- Allergies
- Medication history
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)