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Telangiectasia

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Telangiectasia

Definition:

Telangiectasias are abnormally dilated blood vessels associated with a number of diseases.

Alternative Names:
Vascular ectasias

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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

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