Imaging of acute unilateral limb swelling: A multi modality overview

Acute unilateral limb swelling is a common clinical problem that has a relatively wide differential diagnosis both by clinical and imaging studies, nevertheless, the diagnostic list may include conditions that have quite different treatment plans, this mandates early establishment of the correct diagnosis. This review gives a multimodality approach in imaging of unilateral limb swelling with an onset not exceeding 72 h. The most common etiologies for the condition were tabulated regarding the anatomical level from which they arise, aiming to give a step wise imaging work up overviewing the imaging characteristics for each pathological condition.