Editing Lymphatic system (section)

===Lymphedema===
{{Main|Lymphedema}}
[[Lymphedema]] is the [[edema|swelling]] caused by the accumulation of lymph, which may occur if the lymphatic system is damaged or has malformations. It usually affects limbs, though the face, neck and abdomen may also be affected. In an extreme state, called [[elephantiasis]], the edema progresses to the extent that the skin becomes thick with an appearance similar to the skin on [[elephant]] limbs.<ref>{{Cite web | first =  James D. | last = Douketis | name-list-style = vanc | title = Lymphedema| url = http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec03/ch037/ch037b.html | work = Merck Manual }}</ref>

Causes are unknown in most cases, but sometimes there is a previous history of severe infection, usually caused by a [[parasitic disease]], such as [[lymphatic filariasis]].

[[Lymphangiomatosis]] is a disease involving multiple cysts or lesions formed from lymphatic vessels.{{Off topic sentence|date=June 2019}}

Lymphedema can also occur after [[Lymphadenectomy|surgical removal of lymph nodes]] in the armpit (causing the arm to swell due to poor lymphatic drainage) or groin (causing swelling of the leg). Conventional treatment is by [[manual lymphatic drainage]] and [[compression garment]]s. Two drugs for the treatment of lymphedema are in clinical trials: Lymfactin<ref name=lymfactin>{{Cite web| last = Herantis Pharma| title = Lymfactin® for lymphedema| date = 2015-07-21| url = http://herantis.com/pipeline/lymfactin-for-lymphedema/| access-date = 2018-12-28| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181208163642/http://herantis.com/pipeline/lymfactin-for-lymphedema/| archive-date = 2018-12-08| url-status = dead}}</ref> and [[Ubenimex]]/[[Bestatin]]. There is no evidence to suggest that the effects of manual lymphatic drainage are permanent.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Martín ML, Hernández MA, Avendaño C, Rodríguez F, Martínez H | title = Manual lymphatic drainage therapy in patients with breast cancer related lymphoedema | journal = BMC Cancer | volume = 11 | issue = 1 | pages = 94 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21392372 | pmc = 3065438 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2407-11-94 | doi-access = free }}</ref>