Definition
- Benign vascular lesion of skin & mucosa, that presents as a shiny red mass
- Benign proliferation of capillary blood vessels
- Misnamed entity: Neither infectious nor granulomatous
Incidence
- Relatively common, children & young adults
Aetiology
- Trauma: some develop at the site of a minor injury (e.g. pinprick)
- Hormonal influences
- Often arises in pregnancy (on oral mucosa) in up to 5% of pregnancies
- Rarely: COC use
Clinical
- Small red spot that grows rapidly - days to weeks (2mm – 2cm)
- Solitary glistening red papule or nodule that is prone to bleeding and ulceration
- Most often on head, neck, extremities & upper trunk – esp. fingers
- Possible discomfort or cosmetic concern
Pathology
- Variant of Capillary Haemangioma – exophytic growth, Superficial part = inflamed with granulation tissue
- Pathogenesis unknown
Investigations
- Excision Bx if any concerns
Management
- Curettage & cauterization (of feeding vessel)
- Or excise (esp. if diagnostic concern)
Prognosis / Natural Hx:
- Untreated lesions eventually atrophy, become fibromatous & slowly regress
- Lesions in pregnancy often regress spontaneously
- Recurrences occur in up to 40-50%
- Full thickness skin excision → Lowest chance of recurrence
