Hi Dave
This is a fairly complex question and before I give my response, I just want to be sure that you understand I am not a medical professional nor have I had any formal medical training. I base my opinions on (1) 57 years of experience in living with lymphedema (2) intense research using evidence based science/medicine (3) experience of lymphedema patients from throughout the world and what they themselves have experienced with this condition.
There is now substantial information available in the medical literature regarding lung problems and lymphedema.
One way this can occur is as a result of lymphatic failure in the thoracic duct and/or in the right side drainage system. Both of these are central to where the lymph is dumped back into the vascular system whereby the body removes it from our body.
This, plus lymphatic failure in the abdomen is what occurred to me. As a result, I have serious pleural effusions
see*
http://www.lymphedemapeople.com/thesite ... usions.htmand must drain my lungs every three day, removing aprox. 620 ml from each lung.. In this initial period - the first couple years, I had quite a number of pneumothorax as well. It seems like i was in and out of the hospital due to this just about every month.
This can also occur if your ab/chest lymphatics are damaged or injured such as might happen with radiation treatment or a trauma injury.
You can also be born with malformed a/chest lymphatics and this may not be detected until suddenly you have a problem.
Finally, there is a very serious medical condition that presents with general lymphedema itself. This is called pulmonary lymphangiectasia:
http://www.lymphedemapeople.com/thesite ... ctasia.htmThis condition until very recently was almost always fatal. As great strides have been made in diagnosing and treating it, the future looks much brighter now then it did. The link will give you info on it.
Lymphatic problems in the chest, thoracic region and/or right side are usually totally overlooked as most of the tests (lymphoscintigraphy - see*
http://www.lymphedemapeople.com/wiki/do ... intigraphy) are 99.99% done to locate lymphatic blockages in the legs and/or arms. Thus these regions are overlooked. In 2007 I had an "all-over" body one done which showed the various lymphatic shutdowns.
This seems to be a new area of lymphatic research and documentation as well. Not long ago, doctors would have argued until they were blue in the face that such lung issues do not happen with lymphedema. However, in addition to the increased awareness of it in the medical literature, I am frankly astounded by the number of people who have written me with similar problems as I have posted my own experience.
In conclusion, while I can not provide a "hard-core" link between pleural failure and lymphedema, there is enough evidence to cause me to believe that yes, it is a possibility. While it is imperative that your doctors do any and all tests to determine the cause of your pleural failure, they really do need to consider and look into the lymphatics in these areas.
My very best to you and I hope this can help.
Pat