[Chronic lymphedema in the genital area. Etiology and therapeutic possibilities].

The chronic lymph edema, the elephantiasis of the male genitals, is a rare in areas without endemic filiriasis. The genesis of the lymph edema in the genital area is manifold. Diagnostic procedures and considerations determine the chain of events leading to the development of lymph edema in the genital area. Only then, an optimal treatment concept may be established. This includes conservative, conservative surgical, and surgical techniques. The principles of a differentiated treatment procedure is demonstrated by using the literature. The individual procedure depends mainly on the etiology, course of the disease, and the local situation.