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Obstrucción linfática - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Linfedema

Definición:

Es un bloqueo de los vasos linfáticos que drenan líquido desde los tejidos a través de todo el cuerpo y permiten que las células del sistema inmunitario viajen hasta donde se necesiten. La obstrucción linfática puede causar linfedema, que significa inflamación debido a un bloqueo de los conductos linfáticos.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La razón más común para la obstrucción linfática es la extirpación o inflamación de los ganglios linfáticos.

Las causas de la obstrucción linfática abarcan:

  • Infecciones parasitarias como la filariasis
  • Lesión
  • Radioterapia
  • Infecciones cutáneas como celulitis (más común en pacientes obesos)
  • Cirugía
  • Tumores

En las sociedades occidentales, una de las causas más comunes de linfedema es la extirpación de las mamas (mastectomía) y del tejido linfático por debajo del brazo por cáncer de mama. Esto causa linfedema del brazo en el 10 al 15% de los pacientes, debido a que el drenaje linfático del brazo pasa a través de la axila.

Las formas raras de linfedema que se presentan desde el nacimiento (congénitas) pueden resultar de problemas en el desarrollo de vasos linfáticos.

  • Reviewed last on: 8/14/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Kerchner K, Fleischer A, Yosipovitch G. Lower extremity lymphedema update: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:324-331.

Freedman DO. Filariasis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 379.

Muss HB. Breast cancer and differential diagnosis of benign lesions. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 208.

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