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 readily and cause significant problems. Telangiectasias may also occur in the brain and cause major problems from bleeding.

Common Causes:

• Facial telangiectasia associated with age, sun exposure, or alcohol use
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome)
• Ataxia - telangiectasia
• Spider angioma
• Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (an inherited disorder)
• Bloom syndrome
• Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome
• Sturge-Weber disease
• Xeroderma pigmentosa
• Nevus flammeus such as port-wine stain

Home Care:

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice enlarged vessels in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes of your child, call your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Telangiectasia can be a symptom of a disease. Most of those disorders can be diagnosed by history and physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting telangiectasia in detail may include:

• Is the condition visible?
• Where is it located exactly?
• Do the vessels bleed easily? Do they bleed without any cause?
• What other symptoms are also present?

Physical examination is usually limited to an examination of the skin.

Various x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans, and liver function studies, or other blood studies may be indicated. The specific tests will depend on the suspected disease.