Lymphedma occurs when tissue swelling develops through a failure of lymph drainage in the face of a normal capillary filtration. Little is known about water behavior in lymphedma.

Our purpose was to investigate, by means of ultrasound, the distribution of intradermal fluid in patients with lymphedema in response to 2 weeks physical therapy.

Ten patients with lymphedema were treated by 2 weeks' physical therapy. Before and after 2 weeks' treatment, circumference and ultrasonographic evaluation was done. Ultrasound images were obtained with a 20 MHz scanner. The echogenicity of the dermis and the skin thickness were quantified by in-built image analyzer.

Low echogenic pixels showed the most noticeable and consistent change after 2 weeks' physical therapy.

Ultrasonographic evaluation could be a useful tool in evaluating lymphedema.