Evaluation of the patient with leg edema.

Leg edema is a common and challenging problem. The possible causes are numerous and are not limited to the vascular system. Bilateral swelling is usually a manifestation of systemic disorder, whereas unilateral swelling has many possible causes, the most common of which is chronic venous insufficiency. By means of the basic history and physical examination, a differential diagnosis can usually be established without extensive use of expensive diagnostic testing.