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Localized lymphedema (also known as elephantiasis, massive localized lymphedema, or lymphedematous fibroepithelial polyp) is a pseudotumor strongly associated with obesity. It is a form of secondary lymphedema — an acquired dysfunction of normal lymphatics due to mechanical compression in pendulous fat. Authors of a retrospective clinicopathologic analysis of 18 patients with these large polypoid or verrucous lesions describe clues to diagnosing this condition.
Incidence was increased in middle-aged women (male:female ratio, 1:2; mean age, 46.5). Three quarters were obese at diagnosis; half, morbidly obese. No other contributory risk factors (e.g., surgery, trauma, radiation) were noted. The lesions were verrucous, papillomatous skin-colored…