elephantiasis

(ĕl″ĕ-făn-tī′ă-sĭs )

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[Gr. elephas, elephant + -iasis, condition]
Massive swelling, esp. of the genitalia and lower extremities, resulting from obstruction of lymphatic vessels, for example by filarial parasites, malignancies, neurofibromatosis, or a familial congenital disease (Milroy disease). Prolonged swelling can cause an increase in interstitial fibrous tissue and skin puckering or breakdown. In patients with parasitic elephantiasis (the filarial diseases, common in the tropics), single-dose therapy with ivermectin or ivermectin plus albendazole destroys immature but not adult worms.
SEE: lymphedema

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