Rev Med Interne 2017 Jul 6. Epub 2017 Jul 6.

Département de médecine vasculaire, centre hospitalier universitaire de Grenoble, CS 10217, 38043 Grenoble cedex 9, France; UMR 1042-HP2, Inserm, université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France. Electronic address:

J Drugs Dermatol 2017 Mar;16(3):280-282

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2017 Apr 21;108(3):e21-e26. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.

The late development of symmetrical, ascending telangiectasias over an extensive area of the skin with no associated systemic manifestations is a common presentation of generalized essential telangiectasia (GET). It was recently suggested that cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is clinically identical to GET but that the 2 conditions can be distinguished by their distinctive histopathologic findings. We present 2 patients, both women, with multiple telangiectasias and describe the histopathologic findings that led to the diagnoses of GET and CCV. Read More

Indian Dermatol Online J 2016 Jan-Feb;7(1):40-2

Department of Dermatology, Seth GS Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is a distinct, rare, and underdiagnosed condition. We report a case of CCV in a 50-year-old woman presenting as asymptomatic, erythematous to hyperpigmented nonblanchable macules over both the lower extremities. The clinical differential diagnosis of the lesions was pigmented purpuric dermatoses (Schamberg's purpura) and cutaneous small vessel vasculitis. Read More

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2015 Nov;8(11):49-52

Vanderbilt University.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a rare microangiopathy of dermal blood vessels. Clinically indistinguishable from generalized essential telangiectasia, this condition is diagnosed by its unique histological appearance. In contrast to other primary telangiectatic processes, cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy has dilated vascular structures that contain deposits of eosinophilic hyaline material within the vessel walls. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2015 Jul 8;2015. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Dermatology Department, Hospital Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a rare cutaneous microangiopathy of unknown aetiology with only 27 cases reported to date. It is characterised clinically by generalised cutaneous telangiectasias and microscopically by dilation and marked thickening of the walls of superficial dermal blood vessels. Differential diagnosis should be performed with other causes of disseminated telangiectasias, including generalised essential telangiectasia, from which it is clinically indistinguishable. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2015 Jul 27;40(5):513-5. Epub 2015 Jan 27.

Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is a rare skin condition of unknown aetiology. We report a case of a 39-year-old man who presented to the ophthalmology department with reduced vision, and was diagnosed with generalized essential telangiectasia by indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography of his eyes. The patient was noted to have corneal neovascularization (which was responsible for his reduced visual acuity) and conjunctival telangiectases seen by angiography. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2015 May;37(5):368-75

Department of Pathology (Dermatopathology), St Joseph's Healthcare and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is a rare distinct idiopathic microangiopathy of the superficial cutaneous vasculature. Seven new cases are reported (6 females and 1 male) ranging in age from 42 to 85 years, with some showing unusual clinical and histopathological findings. All presented with macular telangiectases starting on the lower extremities and spreading progressively in 5 cases and were suspected to have generalized essential telangiectasia. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2014 Apr 24;41(4):386-93. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Department of Pathology (Dermatopathology), St. Joseph's Healthcare and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is a rare cutaneous microangiopathy that clinically resembles generalized essential telangiectasia with only 12 cases reported to date. The perivascular fibrosis is thought to be due to production of abnormal collagen by veil cells in the outer vessel walls as a result of unknown factors. This report is of an 84-year-old male with progressive telangiectasia. Read More

Hepatology 2014 Jun 28;59(6):2419-21. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Br J Haematol 2013 Apr 14;161(2):155. Epub 2013 Feb 14.

Service de médecine interne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.

Dermatol Online J 2012 Dec 15;18(12):13. Epub 2012 Dec 15.

The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, USA.

Generalized essential telangiectasia, which is a rare condition that is characterized by the progressive development of telangiectases on the skin, is a clinical diagnosis of exclusion. We present a 65-year-old man with a ten-month history of an asymptomatic eruption of the trunk and proximal aspects of the arms and hands that was comprised of macules and patches of telangiectases. The clinical presentation, associated diseases, hypotheses regarding pathogenesis, differential diagnoses, and reports on treatment modalities are reviewed. Read More

Dermatology 2012 19;225(1):1-8. Epub 2012 Jul 19.

Dermatology Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is an idiopathic microangiopathy with characteristic histological findings. It was described in 2000, and 9 cases have since been described. Two women of 83 and 74 years consulted for long-standing telangiectasias. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2012 Aug 16;39(8):741-6. Epub 2012 Jul 16.

Cleveland Clinic - Anatomic Pathology and Dermatology, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a rare microangiopathy of superficial dermal blood vessels. Patients present with telangiectatic macules, predominantly on the extremities. A skin biopsy specimen is necessary to distinguish cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy from generalized essential telangiectasia. Read More

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2012 May 20;139(5):381-6. Epub 2012 Apr 20.

Service de Dermatologie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgique.

Background: Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is an entity first described in 2000 by Salama and Rosenthal [1]. Because of its rarity, we felt it opportune to report the present case.

Patients And Methods: We describe the case of a 47-year-old woman presenting with widespread telangiectasia distributed symmetrically on the legs, thighs and lower abdomen. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2010 Jun;101(5):444-7

Complejo Hospitalario Arquitecto Marcide-Novoa Santos, Ferrol, La Coruña, España.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is an idiopathic microangiopathy first described in 2000 by Salama and Rosenthal.It must not be confused with generalized essential telangiectasia. To date, all patients have been white men over the age of 50 years, most of whom had multiple pathologies, were taking multiple drugs, and had no family history of similar conditions or hemorrhagic disorders. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2010 Nov 6;63(5):882-5. Epub 2010 May 6.

St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is characterized by generalized cutaneous telangiectasia and unique microscopic and ultrastructural vascular changes, consisting of marked collagen deposition within the vascular walls of the post-capillary venules in the superficial dermis. There are only 4 previous cases described in the medical literature, all in males, mostly middle-aged. We have recently seen two female patients with clinical and histopathologic features diagnostic of cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy, indicating that it is not restricted to males. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2010 Mar;101(2):192-3

Am J Clin Dermatol 2010 ;11(1):63-6

Department of Dermatology, Ed. Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a very rare entity first described in 2000, manifesting clinically with acquired, progressively diffuse, cutaneous telangiectases with a histologically distinct aspect, characterized by a thick hyaline collagenous wall. Its cause is unknown. Differential diagnosis includes mainly generalized essential telangiectasia and telangiectatic mastocytosis. Read More

Intern Med J 2009 Nov;39(11):781-3

J Am Acad Dermatol 2009 Apr;60(4):710-1

Dermatol Online J 2008 May 15;14(5). Epub 2008 May 15.

Department of Dermatology, New York University, USA.

A 56-year-old woman presented with multiple, erythematous cutaneous vessels that blanched with diascopy and were symmetrically distributed over both lower and upper extremities. The lesions had been present for approximately 6 years and were asymptomatic. Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is an idiopathic syndrome of widespread, asymptomatic telangiectases of unknown cause. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2008 Oct 5;35(10):967-70. Epub 2008 Jun 5.

Diagnostic Pathology Medical Group, Inc., Sacramento, CA, USA.

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is an idiopathic microangiopathy involving the superficial blood vessels that was initially reported in a 54-year-old male. We recently have identified this rarely reported entity in three Caucasian males. The first patient was a 59-year-old male with diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia who presented with multiple, red, blanchable, asymptomatic telangiectasias covering the extensor surface of the forearms, the lower abdomen and parts of the chest. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2006 Nov;31(6):781-2

Department of Dermatology, Eastbourne Hospital, Eastbourne, UK.

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is a rare skin disorder characterized by generalized development of dilated venules, which start at the lower extremities and progressively spread to the rest of the body. Mucous and conjunctival involvement is rare. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination, after excluding other primary and secondary causes of telangiectasia. Read More

Cutis 2005 Apr;75(4):223-4

Department of Dermatology, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is a well-established but seldom reported disorder. Patients with this condition develop widespread telangiectasias for no known reason. Although the condition can be cosmetically and psychologically devastating, it fortunately is not associated with other diseases or complications. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2004 Feb;45(1):67-9

Department of Dermatology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

A 43-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of telangiectatic lesions on her lower legs. The lesions progressively spread to involve her thighs and left arm. She had no family or personal history of recurrent haemorrhage or telangiectases. Read More

Mol Cell Biol 2002 May;22(9):3174-7

Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute-NIH Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

Atm-deficient mice die of malignant thymic lymphomas characterized by translocations within the Tcr alpha/delta locus, suggesting that tumorigenesis is secondary to aberrant responses to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks that occur during RAG-dependent V(D)J recombination. We recently demonstrated that development of thymic lymphoma in Atm(-/-) mice was not prevented by loss of RAG-2. Thymic lymphomas that developed in Rag2(-/-) Atm(-/-) mice contained multiple chromosomal abnormalities, but none of these involved the Tcr alpha/delta locus. Read More

Dermatol Surg 2001 Apr;27(4):355-7

Department of Dermatology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, D-44791 Bochum, Germany.

Background: Generalized essential telangiectasia is a rare cutaneous disorder with limited therapeutic options.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment with high-energy, high-frequency, long-pulse Nd:YAG laser in a patient with generalized essential telangiectasia.

Methods: A 62-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of generalized essential telangiectasia. Read More

J Fr Ophtalmol 2001 Jan;24(1):45-8

Département d'ophtalmologie des hôpitaux universitaires de la Sarre, Homburg/Sarre Allemangne.

Generalized essential telangiectasia is a rare skin disorder characterized by the development of dilated venules beginning at the lower extremities and progressively spreading out to the rest of the body. It is not related to any known affection and is therefore considered to be essential. The condition tends to affect mostly women in their midthirties. Read More

Cutis 2001 Feb;67(2):107-8

Department of Dermatology, Granview Hospital and Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is a rare vascular condition with limited treatment options. We report the successful treatment of GET with the 585-nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FLPDL). Read More

Cutis 2000 Mar;65(3):175-7

National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET), as originally described, is not associated with any underlying disease. Although patients with GET lack the typical periungual telangiectases associated with autoimmune collagen vascular diseases, these patients may have an underlying autoimmune process. We present a patient with a history of Graves' disease and low-titer anti-nuclear antibodies, who developed rapidly progressive generalized telangiectases. Read More

Cornea 1999 Nov;18(6):731-3

Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento 95817, USA.

Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 1998 Feb;212(2):116-9

Klinik für Ophthalmologie der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kjel.

Background: Widespread idiopathic telangiectasia (generalized essential telangiectasia) is a rare skin disorder characterized by the development and gradual spreading of telangiectases. The condition tends to affect women in their midthirties. For no apparent reason telangiectases start to appear to the lower extremities and progress steadily to involve the skin of the trunk, the arms, and the face. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 1997 Aug;37(2 Pt 2):321-5

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.

Generalized essential telangiectasia was well defined more than 30 years ago. There have been no reported cases of associated gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Recurrent hemorrhage in the setting of telangiectases, including GI bleeding, is more typically associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Read More

Br J Dermatol 1991 Sep;125(3):283-4

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Utrecht.

J Am Acad Dermatol 1989 Nov;21(5 Pt 2):1094-6

Department of Medicine, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699.

A unique, progressive syndrome of muscle weakness, ascending telangiectasia, and venous ectasia of the legs developed in a 55-year-old woman with autoimmune thyroiditis. Myopathy was documented by electromyography and electron microscopy. Her constellation of findings is considered to be of autoimmune origin. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 1989 Aug;93(2 Suppl):2S-9S

Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.

The cutaneous microvasculature is organized into upper and lower horizontal plexuses with the dermal capillary loops arising from the upper plexus. The arteriolar and venular sides of the microvasculature can be identified by the ultrastructure of the mural basement membrane material. Collecting venules present in the lower dermis contain valves. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1989 Jan-Feb;55(1):47-48

A 24 years old lady had extensive telangiectases in the skin of both the upper and lower limbs, trunk and face for the last 14 years. There was no associated change in the skin or other organs. haeinorrhage from the skin or mucous membranes never occurred. Read More

Ann Dermatol Venereol 1988 ;115(9):909-17

Service de Dermatologie, Faculté de Médecine, Cliniques universitaires, Bruxelles.

Six patients of the same family present with micronodular and generalized familial angiomatosis. Four of them have been investigated. Their problem is purely esthetic; however an asymptomatic form of von Willebrand disease has been found in a female and one of her daughters. Read More

Arch Dermatol 1985 Jul;121(7):836-7

J Invest Dermatol 1983 Dec;81(6):489-97

Eight types of telangiectases were studied by light and electron microscopy and by 3-dimensional reconstruction from photomicrographs. Five were macular: mat telangiectasia of scleroderma, generalized essential telangiectasia, nevus flammeus, and 2 macular types not previously described. Three were papular: cherry angioma, angiokeratoma (Fabry), and angiokeratoma (Fordyce). Read More

Arch Belg Dermatol Syphiligr 1972 Oct-Dec;28(4):377-85

Bull Soc Fr Dermatol Syphiligr 1972 ;79(3):220-1

Z Haut Geschlechtskr 1967 Nov;42(22):655-8

Bull Soc Fr Dermatol Syphiligr 1965 Mar-Apr;72:177

JAMA 1963 Sep;185:909-13