heart and blood vessel disorders
Lymphedema
Secondary lymphedema
Secondary lymphedema is more common than primary lymphedema, accounting for more than 95% of cases. It typically occurs after major surgical treatment, especially after cancer treatment in which lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels are removed or treated with radiation therapy. For example, the arm tends to swell after removal of a cancerous breast and lymph nodes in the armpit. ( Lymphatic Filariasis ). In secondary lymphedema, the skin looks healthy but is puffy or swollen. Pressing the area with a finger does not leave a significant indentation, as it does when edema results from inadequate blood flow in the veins. Rarely, especially in filariasis, the swollen limb becomes extremely large and the skin is so thick and ridged that it looks almost like elephant skin. This disorder is calledelephantiasis. 