Generalized essential telangiectasia in Child
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

Most commonly, telangiectasias start distally and spread proximally in a symmetric pattern. The lesions can also be distributed in localized, diffuse, discrete, or confluent patterns. The affected areas are usually asymptomatic, but there can be associated tingling, burning, or numbness.
Generally, there are no associated systemic symptoms or bleeding; however, there have been reported cases of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to gastric antral vascular ectasias.
Codes
ICD10CM:I78.1 – Nevus, non-neoplastic
SNOMEDCT:
238763007 – Generalized essential telangiectasia
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome)
- Hereditary benign telangiectasia – usually inherited in autosomal dominant fashion and often presenting in childhood
- Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy – distinguished from GET histologically with thickened hyaline material in vessel walls
- Ataxia-telangiectasia syndrome – onset usually in first or second decade
- Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans – rare form of mastocytosis
- Telangiectasias secondary to liver disease
- Systemic sclerosis
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:11/17/2020
Last Updated:11/22/2020
Last Updated:11/22/2020


Overview
Generalized essential telangiectasia is a condition in which enlarged blood vessels are able to be seen through the skin. These visible red, purple, or blue blood vessels are sometimes called spider veins because the pattern they make can look like spider webs.Generalized essential telangiectasia usually starts on the lower legs before eventually spreading to other areas of the body. It does not hurt, but some people feel tingling, burning, or numbness.
Who’s At Risk
Women in their 30s and 40s are more likely to have generalized essential telangiectasia.Signs & Symptoms
Red, purple, or blue blood vessels are visible through the skin. They may be widespread but are usually more noticeable on the legs and feet.Self-Care Guidelines
Some people may choose to use makeup or self-tanner to hide the veins.When to Seek Medical Care
Contact your physician if you begin to feel unwell or have a fever. This may mean you have a more serious illness that you should be evaluated for.Treatments
Your doctor may examine you and request lab work on a blood sample to rule out other diseases.This condition is nearly impossible to get rid of. Lasers can be used on the veins, but this treatment can be expensive. It can also be damaging, especially to darker skin types.