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telangiectasia

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Also known as telangiectasis

Telangiectasias (), also known as spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels that can occur near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These dilated blood vessels can develop anywhere on the body but are commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks and chin. Dilated blood vessels can also develop on the legs, although when they occur on the legs, they often have underlying venous reflux or "hidden varicose veins" (see Venous hypertension section below). When found on the legs, they are found specifically on the upper thigh, bel

Key facts

Medical condition (new).name
Telangiectasia
Medical condition (new).synonyms
Spider veins, angioectasias
Medical condition (new).image
Dermoscopy_nodular_basal_cell_carcinoma.jpg
Medical condition (new).caption
Telangiectasia as seen in a basal-cell carcinoma
Medical condition (new).field
Dermatology

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

26,162 papers

via PubMed

~8 min read

Encyclopedic overview

6 sections
Contents
  • Causes
  • Genetic
  • Venous hypertension
  • Other acquired causes
  • Treatment
  • References

Telangiectasias (), also known as spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels that can occur near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These dilated blood vessels can develop anywhere on the body but are commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks and chin. Dilated blood vessels can also develop on the legs, although when they occur on the legs, they often have underlying venous reflux or "hidden varicose veins" (see Venous hypertension section below). When found on the legs, they are found specifically on the upper thigh, below the knee joint and around the ankles.

Many patients with spider veins seek the assistance of physicians who specialize in vein care or peripheral vascular disease. These physicians are called vascular surgeons or phlebologists. More recently, interventional radiologists have started treating venous problems.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “telangiectasia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.