Pretibial myxoedema.

This paper reviews the clinical, endocrine and lymphatic status of 6 patients with pretibial myxoedema. The lymphatics were studied to determine whether they were involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The main lymph trunks were normal although there was occasionally some collateral flow and some of the lymph nodes had small irregular filling defects. These changes suggest compression of the lymphatics by the myxomatous material and the deposition of mucinous material in the lymph nodes. There was no evidence of a primary lymphatic abnormality.