SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA CAUSED BY REPEATED SELF-INJURY

Abstract

Lymphedema is divided into primaryand secondary forms. Primary lymphedemaoften develops in young people and may becaused by lymphvascular aplasia, hypoplasia,and hyperplasia. The most frequent cause ofsecondary lymphedema after lymphaticfilariasis is regional lymph node dissection fortreatment of a malignant tumor, and thiscomplication occurs most frequently in middleaged or older patients. Here, we describe arelatively young patient (27 years old) inwhom collecting lymph vessels in the upperlimb were disrupted by repeated self-injury,with resultant lymphedema. There have beenvery few reports on lymphedema caused byself-induced trauma. This case reportillustrates that secondary lymphedema shouldalso be considered and evaluated appropriatelywhen diagnosed in a relatively young patientwithout a history of cancer or infection.