Peau d orange appearance is due to
**Core Concept**
Peau d'orange, also known as orange peel skin, is a clinical sign characterized by a dimpled, thickened, and sometimes itchy skin appearance. This condition arises due to obstruction of lymphatic vessels, leading to edema and fibrosis of the skin, resembling the peel of an orange.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The peau d'orange appearance is primarily caused by the obstruction of lymphatic vessels, which can be due to various factors such as breast cancer, lymphoma, or other malignancies. This obstruction leads to the accumulation of proteins and fluid in the interstitial space, causing edema and fibrosis of the skin. The affected skin may also exhibit a characteristic dimpling or puckering due to the fibrotic changes.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because while inflammation can cause skin changes, it does not directly lead to the peau d'orange appearance.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because while skin infections can cause skin changes, they do not typically cause the characteristic dimpling and thickening associated with peau d'orange.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because while skin trauma can cause edema, it does not typically lead to the chronic fibrotic changes and dimpling characteristic of peau d'orange.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key clinical correlation to remember is that peau d'orange appearance is often associated with malignancies, particularly breast cancer, and should prompt further investigation to rule out underlying cancer.
**Correct Answer: D. Lymphatic obstruction**