A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing) of skin around legs [due topossible symptoms:
- Corona phlebectatica – appearance of dark blue skin veins at the edge of the foot.
- Atrophie blanche – usually painful depigmentation of the skin in the area of the lower leg.
- Eczematization – often itchy stasis eczema.
- Reddish-brown hyperpigmentation due to local hemosiderosis (increased iron deposition) in the ankle/lower leg area.
- Hyperkeratosis – excessive horn formation of the skin.
- Lipodermatosclerosis – proliferation of connective tissue and reduction of the subcutaneous fat layer, especially in the area of the ankle.
- Cyanotic skin (localized peripheral cyanosis) – purple to bluish discoloration of the skin.
- Ulcus cruris venosum (“open leg”) or scar as a secondary condition]
- Inspection (viewing) of skin around legs [due topossible symptoms:
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
