| |
Figure 1. Representative sample of skin punch biopsy specimens
from patients with lymphedema before (A, B, C) and after (D, E, F) 1 year
of basic lymphedema management. Pretreatment abnormalities of the epidermis
(e), which include increased number of epithelial cells (acanthosis and
epidermal hyperplasia) and thickening of the keratin (k) layer, were improved
after treatment (compare first [A] and second [D] biopsy specimens from
same patient). Also noted is thickening of collagen bundles (*) in the
dermis on the first (A) sample, which is not observed on the second (D).
The intensity of inflammatory cells (i), which stain blue, surrounding
fibrosed vessels (v) on the first sample (B), are more prominent than
in the second sample (E). The amount of inflammation (i) in the subcutaneous
adipose tissue is also more pronounced in the first biopsy sample (C)
than the second sample (F) where adnexa (ad) with minimal inflammation
can be observed. (Hematoxylin and eosin stains; original magnification
for A, C, D, and F = 25x; B and E = 50x.)
|
