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Clinical features

Authoring team

  • characterized by bilateral, symmetric lower extremity enlargement due to subcutaneous deposition of fat  
    • involvement typically extends from the buttocks to the ankles; the feet are much less involved or spared entirely
    • affects women almost exclusively, typically developing insidiously after puberty and progressing gradually
  • Summary features include:

Gender

Women almost exclusively

Age at onset

Often around puberty

Distribution

Bilateral lower extremities, symmetric involvement

Epidermal change

Absent

Foot involvement

Absent, negative Stemmer's sign

Buttock involvement

Present

Nature of swelling

Soft, minimally pitting

Tenderness

Common with pressure

Easy bruising of affected area

Present

Improvement with elevation and compression

Minimal

Family history

Frequent

History of cellulitis, lymphangitis, and venous disease

Uncommon

Stemmer's sign is positive in lymphoedema but negative in lipoedema

  • a positive Stemmer's sign is a skin fold at the base of the second toe too thick to lift

 

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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