Lymphedema Test Study Guide UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is the #1 worldwide cause of lymphedema ? And describe this? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Filariasis
This is a disease caused by a mosquito born parasite found in the tropical regions of the world
In the US, what is the primary cause of lymphedema ? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cancer
treatment
List and describe the 2 main types of lymphedema ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Primary:
the result of lymphatic dysplasia
--Congenital - birth to 2 years
--Precox onset under age of 35
--Tarda-onset after the age of 35
2. Secondary: The result of a known cause: cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, infection,
trauma, etc.
-- This is more common than primary lymphedema
Is primary or secondary lymphedema more common? - CORRECT ANSWER - Secondary
At what ABI is compression therapy not appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - < 0.5
describe the first type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Capillaries: (AKA
initial lymph vessel
- blind/dead end sacs (tubes);
,- This is larger and more permeable than blood capillaries
- Structurally designed to absorb large molecules (proteins)
- Has an extensive network throughout the body
- Design permits easy flow in, but inhibits flow out
- Does not contain one-way valves
describe the second type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 2. Pre-collectors
- Channels the absorbed lymph into larger transporting vessels
- They connect the initial lymph vessels to the lymph collectors
- Often function as a bridge btw the superficial initial lymph vessels and the deeper lymphatic
vessels
describe the third type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3. Collectors
- Primary function is transportation
- These roughly follow the path of the deep arteries and veins and transport lymph to the lymph
node
- Cell wall is continuous - not able to absorb
- Has valves - fluid flow is now unidirectional
The third type of lymphatic vessel are the collectors. There are 2 types. What are they and what
areas do they drain? - CORRECT ANSWER - Superficial collectors: Drain the skin and
subcutis
Deep collectors: Drain related muscles, joints, and ligaments
What is the largest lymphatic vessel? - CORRECT ANSWER - trunks and ducts
describe the fourth type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 4. Lymphatic
trunks and ducts
- largest lymphatic vessel
, - Trunks collect from organs, extremities, and related quadrants
- Ducts eventually empty into venous circulation
What is the largest duct in our body? - CORRECT ANSWER - thoracic duct
What are the advantages of short stretch bandages? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Low
resting pressure: Low constricting force on the skin, does not tighten. Bandaging results in a cast
like sheath
2. High working pressure: creates a high resistance to tissue refill. It cannot stretch to
accommodate fluid retention
What are the contraindications to bandaging ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Acute
infections (cellulitis a common bacterial skin infection that can progress rapidly and become life
threatening
2. Cardiac edema
3. Arterial disease: ABI <0.5 compression therapy not recommended
4. Malignant lymphedema
What are the contraindications for performing MLD? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. General
-Acute infection of any kind
- Cardiac edema (unmanaged)
- Acute DVT
- Renal dysfunction
- Malignant disease-relative
2. Regarding MLD to the neck
- All the general contraindications
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- patients over the age of 60
- Hyperthyroidism
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is the #1 worldwide cause of lymphedema ? And describe this? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Filariasis
This is a disease caused by a mosquito born parasite found in the tropical regions of the world
In the US, what is the primary cause of lymphedema ? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cancer
treatment
List and describe the 2 main types of lymphedema ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Primary:
the result of lymphatic dysplasia
--Congenital - birth to 2 years
--Precox onset under age of 35
--Tarda-onset after the age of 35
2. Secondary: The result of a known cause: cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, infection,
trauma, etc.
-- This is more common than primary lymphedema
Is primary or secondary lymphedema more common? - CORRECT ANSWER - Secondary
At what ABI is compression therapy not appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER - < 0.5
describe the first type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Capillaries: (AKA
initial lymph vessel
- blind/dead end sacs (tubes);
,- This is larger and more permeable than blood capillaries
- Structurally designed to absorb large molecules (proteins)
- Has an extensive network throughout the body
- Design permits easy flow in, but inhibits flow out
- Does not contain one-way valves
describe the second type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 2. Pre-collectors
- Channels the absorbed lymph into larger transporting vessels
- They connect the initial lymph vessels to the lymph collectors
- Often function as a bridge btw the superficial initial lymph vessels and the deeper lymphatic
vessels
describe the third type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 3. Collectors
- Primary function is transportation
- These roughly follow the path of the deep arteries and veins and transport lymph to the lymph
node
- Cell wall is continuous - not able to absorb
- Has valves - fluid flow is now unidirectional
The third type of lymphatic vessel are the collectors. There are 2 types. What are they and what
areas do they drain? - CORRECT ANSWER - Superficial collectors: Drain the skin and
subcutis
Deep collectors: Drain related muscles, joints, and ligaments
What is the largest lymphatic vessel? - CORRECT ANSWER - trunks and ducts
describe the fourth type of lymphatic vessels? - CORRECT ANSWER - 4. Lymphatic
trunks and ducts
- largest lymphatic vessel
, - Trunks collect from organs, extremities, and related quadrants
- Ducts eventually empty into venous circulation
What is the largest duct in our body? - CORRECT ANSWER - thoracic duct
What are the advantages of short stretch bandages? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Low
resting pressure: Low constricting force on the skin, does not tighten. Bandaging results in a cast
like sheath
2. High working pressure: creates a high resistance to tissue refill. It cannot stretch to
accommodate fluid retention
What are the contraindications to bandaging ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Acute
infections (cellulitis a common bacterial skin infection that can progress rapidly and become life
threatening
2. Cardiac edema
3. Arterial disease: ABI <0.5 compression therapy not recommended
4. Malignant lymphedema
What are the contraindications for performing MLD? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. General
-Acute infection of any kind
- Cardiac edema (unmanaged)
- Acute DVT
- Renal dysfunction
- Malignant disease-relative
2. Regarding MLD to the neck
- All the general contraindications
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- patients over the age of 60
- Hyperthyroidism
