Is the differential diagnosis of lipoedema by means of high-resolution ultrasonography possible?

Summary

Introduction: The current German guidelines on treating lipoedema recommend using flatknitted compression material and manual lymphatic drainage as well as liposuction. Differentiating lipoedema from obesity and asymptomatic lipohypertrophy frequently proves difficult. However, a reproducible and objective differential diagnosis is the foundation of an expedient and cost-effective treatment. Material and Methods: As part of a multi-centre registry study (5 centres) ultrasound scans were performed between 1/2016 and 5/2017 on the legs (n=294) of a total of 147 patients with lipoedema (n=136), lymphoedema (n=20), lipoedema with secondary lymphoedema (n=30), lipohypertrophy (n=42) and obesity (n=30), as well as healthy individuals (n=36). Measurements were performed on the thickness of the cutis and subcutis of the lower and upper leg and on their compressibility. An analysis of the sonomorphology was also conducted. Results: Special sonomorphological properties that allow lipoedema to be differentiated from other disease entities and from healthy individuals have yet to be consistently and conclusively identified. The compressibility of the cutis-subcutis complex is completely unspecific and does not allow for any conclusions to be drawn concerning lipoedema. It has not been possible to detect fluid retention in patients with “painful lipohypertrophy” so that the description of the disease as lipoedema is misleading and should be reconsidered.

Keywords

Lipoedema - lipohypertrophy - secondary lymphoedema - sonography - mattress phenomenon

• Literatur

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