[Congestive lymphostatic papillomatosis].

In seven patients with papillomatosis cutis in chronically congested lower extremities (lymphoedema, chronic venous insufficiency, chronic cardiac insufficiency) indirect lymphography revealed abnormalities of dermal lymph drainage. In four of these patients punch biopsies were taken from the papillomas. Microscopic examination revealed hyperplasia of the epidermis and dilated capillary-like vessels. Papillomatosis cutis in chronically congested lower extremities can be distinguished from pseudoepitheliomatose and carcinomatose alterations by both clinical and histological examination. Impaired local lymph transport seems to be the decisive trigger mechanism for the development of these papillomas.