Abdominal Elephantiasis: An Obstructive Disease Due to Extreme Obesity

Abstract

This study deals with abdominal elephantiasis disease due to extensive lymph node destruction by erysipelas. The disease is rare, and only seen in developed countries among unfortunate morbid obese (e.g., BMI is in the range 60 to 80 or above) individuals. Abdominal elephantiasis is viewed as by chronic inflammation and obstruction of the lymphatic channels, and by hypertrophy of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. This mini review tries to make conscious about the negative effects of extreme obesity.