Secondary Lymphedema After Intestinal Tuberculosis: A Case Report
10.5535/arm.2019.43.6.725
- Author:
Ji Won HONG
1
;
Ho Eun PARK
;
Myung Jun SHIN
;
Yong Beom SHIN
;
Jin A YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. yjk5289@naver.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Lymphedema;
Tuberculosis;
Secondary lymphedema
- MeSH:
Chronic Disease;
Diagnostic Errors;
Edema;
Humans;
Indocyanine Green;
Leg;
Lower Extremity;
Lymphedema;
Lymphography;
Middle Aged;
Pathology;
Quality of Life;
Tuberculosis
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2019;43(6):725-729
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Lymphedema, a chronic disease that lowers patients' quality of life, is categorized as primary or secondary. Secondary lymphedema can be improved by treating the underlying cause. However, in many cases, efforts are not made to identify the primary cause of lymphedema and treatment is targeted at the edema itself, resulting in misdiagnosis. Here, we describe the case of a 61-year-old man with right leg edema of unknown cause that had persisted for 3 years. Intestinal tuberculosis was confirmed during a re-evaluation of the cause, and his symptoms improved after anti-tuberculous treatment. This improvement was assessed qualitatively by indocyanine green lymphography before and after treatment, as well as by observation of the clinical symptoms. Lower extremity lymphedema caused by intestinal tuberculosis is extremely rare, and this case reveals the importance of continuing to identify the causes of resistant pathologies.
