Congenital lymphatic dysplasias: genetics review and resources for the lymphologist.

Diagnosing congenital lymphatic dysplasia and counseling the parents of babies with possible genetic conditions represents a difficult task. This article attempts to provide a guide to establishing genetic tools and a reference library for use in the diagnostic work-up of congenital lymphatic diseases. The tools that are outlined herein are not meant to replace genetic counseling; their role is merely to facilitate the interaction between lymphologist and geneticist. These tools are a way of identifying lymphatic dysplasias at a very early stage.