Stemmer sign
Last reviewed 01/2018
A sign of lymphoedema
- first described by Kaposi and then again by Stemmer
- the positive Kaposi-Stemmer sign, is positive if the skin on the dorsum of the second toe cannot be pinched as a fold by the fingers
- although this sign was described for the toes, the trained observer can demonstrate this phenomenon on any other part of the body without problem
- when positive, it confirms the presence of peripheral lymphedema
- when suspecting arm lymphedema after axillary dissection, the chest wall on both sides and the back should be examined and oedema confirmed by a positive Kaposi-Stemmer sign
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