Telangiectasia

TELANGIECTASIA (from Greek telos-end, angeion-vessel and ektasis-dilation), a persistent dilation of capillary branches in various areas of the body. Telangiectasias appear as spots of various sizes of crimson-red color, with irregular outlines, sometimes elevated above the level of the skin where they are most frequently observed, especially on the face. Telangiectasias are congenital formations, representing a defect in the development of the vascular system in the sense of hamartia, i.e., excessive development of the system and some dilation. Capriciously winding in a limited area of skin (in the area of sebaceous, sweat glands, hair follicles, skin papillae, etc.), the dilated capillaries closely resemble the usual types of angiomas, hence the synonyms for telangiectasia: angioma simplex, haemangioma simplex. Sometimes telangiectasias are designated as naevus vascularis or simply as capillary ectasia, contrasting them with arteriectasias. Telangiectasias are sometimes accompanied by excessive development of connective tissue in the same area. Telangiectasias of the retina may be accompanied by the formation of glial tissue (angiogliomatosis). The boundaries between telangiectasias and angiomas remain not entirely clear. It is very probable that true angiomas, which often occur in adult subjects, have telangiectasias as their initial stage as an acquired condition, for example, associated with loss of vascular tone, stagnation phenomena, etc.