Health Encyclopedia

Telangiectasia

Definition

Telangiectasias are small blood vessels on the skin. They are usually meaningless, but may be associated with several diseases.

Alternative Names

Vascular ectasias

Considerations

Telangiectasias may develop anywhere within the body but can be easily seen in the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes. Usually, they do not cause symptoms. However, some telangiectasias bleed and cause significant problems. Telangiectasias may also occur in the brain and cause major problems from bleeding.

Common Causes

Causes may include:

Alcohol use
Aging
Sun exposure

Diseases associated with this condition include:

Ataxia - telangiectasia
Bloom syndrome
Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome)
Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome
Nevus flammeus such as port-wine stain
Spider angioma
Sturge-Weber disease
Xeroderma pigmentosa

Call your health care provider if

Call your health care provider if you notice enlarged vessels in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the symptoms, including:

Where are the blood vessels located?
Do they bleed easily and without reason?
What other symptoms are present?

Tests may be needed to diagnose or rule out a medical condition. Such tests may include:

Blood tests
CT scans
Liver function studies
MRI scans
X-rays

Review Date:4/16/2007
Reviewed By:Michael S. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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