Lymphedema – either primary or secondary is characterized by the accumulation of interstitial fluid in the soft tissue resulting from the obstruction, lack of or removal of lymph pathways.

Primary Lymphedema:  a condition caused by impaired lymph vessel and/or lymph node development in utero.  It can manifest at birth (congenital lymphedema), during puberty (lymphedema praecox) or after 30 years of age (lymphedema tarda).

These terms are used when primary lymphedema is being described:

1)  Type I Nonne-Milroy which is the hereditary congenital elephantiasis.  This manifests at birth or soon after and generally affects the lower body area.

2)  Type II Meige which is the non-congenital, hereditary and manifests during puberty.

Primary lymphedema is more often in women than in men, and can also affect the upper body.

Secondary Lymphedema:  a condition where the lymph transportation has been impaired by external causes such as trauma, surgery, inflammation and parasites, to name a few.  The most common cause of secondary lymphedema in North America is removal of lymph nodes and/or radiation for breast cancer.