Analysis of lymphoedema as first symptom of a neoplasm in a series of 650 patients with limb involvement.

In a series of 650 patients with lymphoedema of the extremities, a clinically suspected primary lymphoedema in 60 patients was found upon roentgenological examination to be secondary lymphoedema. After lymphography, tomography and in some cases selective supplementary angiographic examination, the causitive factor for almost all patients could be established and was confirmed after biopsy/operation and pathological-anatomical-anatomical examination. This is a very important finding, because a developing lymphoedema may be the first symptom of a malignant process characterized by tumour infiltration into the lymph nodes. It is exactly in these patients that lymphography may often give rise to unexpected amazing findings, which in certain cases may contribute to the possibility of starting effective treatment.