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- Trauma, cellulitits and DVT may cause unilateral limb swelling but would occur more acutely over hours or days. Although these
conditions may casue swelling they are also likely to present with additional symptoms such as pain.
- Metastatic pelvic malignancy can invade lymphatic tissue. This would prevent drainage of lymph causing lymphoedema. Alternatively
any pelvic mass could hinder venous return by compression of pelvic veins, this would increase the hydrostatic pressure in the legs
with consequent leg swelling.
- Similar to metastatic pelvic malignancy, deep venous incompetence would prevent normal venous return causing leg swelling.
- In congestive cardiac failure there is increased hydrostatic pressure. This is caused by poor heart contractility with consequent
decrease in venous return. The increased hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to leak out of the blood vessels. However, this occurs
in both limbs, not just one.
- In hepatic and renal failure there is low oncotic pressure. The hydrostatic pressure in the vessels of the leg exceed the low
oncotic pressure again causing fluid to leak out of the blood vessels. This would occur in both limbs not just one.
- Pelvic radiotherapy and groin dissection can destroy lymphatic vessels and or lymph nodes preventing drainage of lymph and thereby
causing lymphoedema.
