Filarial lymphedema

Cutaneous lymphangiosarcoma following chronic lymphedema of filarial origin

We are reporting a case of 36 yr old female with chronic filarial lymphedema of both legs. Subsequently she developed lymphangiosarcoma of her left leg which was confirmed histologically and on immunohistochemistry. Only three more cases of lymphagiosarcoma occurring in patients with filarial lymphedema are reviewed from available literature.

Lymphangiosarcoma associated with chronic filarial lymphedema

A case of a 19-year-old inhabitant of Southern India with chronic filarial lymphedema of the right leg and subsequent lymphangiosarcoma is reported. Two additional cases of lymphangiosarcoma occurring in patients with filarial lymphedema are reviewed from the literature.

Lymphangiosarcoma after filarial infection

A case of lymphangiosarcoma of a lower extremity is described in a patient with chronic lymphedema of that leg from a filarial infection in childhood. Histologically, the neoplasm resembled lymphangiosarcomas that arise in arms that become lymphedematous after mastectomies, but was different in that it also contained areas of calcification consistent with prior filarial infection. Calcifications were also present in muscle uninvolved by the lymphangiosarcoma of this case. The prolonged survival of this patient is unlike that of most patients with lymphangiosarcoma, which is generally shorter. Although lymphedema after filariasis is common, this is the first case of a lymphangiosarcoma arising in chronic lymphedema of filarial origin.