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venous lake
Asymptomatic, dark blue to violaceous soft papule resulting from a dilated venule on the face, lips or ears of patients over 50 years of age.
Etiology:
1) unknown
2) thought to be related to sun exposure
Pathology:
- dilated venule lined with flattened endothelium & a thin wall of fibrous tissue
Clinical manifestations:
1) asymptomatic, dark blue to violaceous soft papule
2) occurs on the face, lips or ears in patients over 50
3) few lesions occur
4) lesions remain for years
5) when compressed with a glass slide, venous lakes disappear; this distinguishes them from nodular melanoma & blue nevus [2]
* images [3]
Laboratory:
1) biopsy
2) examination of tissue with epiluminescence microscopy
3) distinquish vascular lesion from pigment cell neoplasm
Differential diagnosis:
1) nodular melanoma
2) blue nevus
2) pyogenic granuloma
Management:
1) of cosmetic significance only
2) electrosurgery
3) laser surgery
4) excision
Related
melanoma
pyogenic granuloma ;granuloma telangiectaticum; lobular capillary hemangioma
General
nevus
hemangioma (strawberry nevus)
References
- Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, Common
& Serious Diseases, 3rd ed, Fitzpatrick et al, McGraw Hill, NY,
1997, pg 157
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009
- DermNet NZ. Angiomas (images)
http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/angioma.html