Port-wine stain

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Port-wine stain Classification and external resources
Mikhail Gorbachev
ICD-10	Q82.5
ICD-9	757.32
DiseasesDB	10384
MedlinePlus	001475
eMedicine	derm/295
MeSH	D019339

A port-wine stain or naevus flammeus is a vascular birthmark consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin which produce a reddish to purplish discoloration of the skin. They are so called for their colour, resembling that of port wine. It is part of the family of disorders known as vascular malformations.

Port-wine stains are present at birth and persist throughout life. The area of skin affected grows in proportion to general growth. Port-wine stains occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. Early stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child matures, the color may deepen to a dark red or purplish color. In adulthood, thickening of the lesion or the development of small lumps may occur.

PWS may be one of a group of symptoms and signs, in which case it is considered to be part of a syndrome such as Sturge-Weber syndrome or Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. All birthmarks should be evaluated by the health care provider during a routine examination.

Contents 1 Diagnosis 2 Treatment 3 Prognosis 4 Epidemiology 5 Notable cases 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Diagnosis

A physician can usually diagnose a port wine stain based entirely upon the history and appearance. In unusual cases, a skin biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Depending on the location of the birthmark and other associated symptoms, a physician may choose to order a measurement of intraocular pressure or X-ray of the skull.

[edit] Treatment

Many treatments have been tried for port-wine stains including freezing, surgery, radiation, and tattooing; port-wine stains can also be covered with cosmetics. Lasers have made the biggest impact on treatment, because they are the sole method of destroying the cutaneous capillaries without significant damage to the overlying skin.

The flashlamp pumped dye laser, a yellow light laser, has been the most successful at destroying stains in infants and young children. The neodymium YAG laser is used to treat the nodules that may develop in some adult port-wine stains.

Treatment of infants with the flashlamp pumped dye laser generally produces marked improvement in appearance though complete disappearance is rare. Unfortunately, in a small percentage of cases (approximately 20%)^[1] there may be no improvement at all. Stains on the face respond better than those on the trunk or limbs. Older stains may be more difficult to treat.

[edit] Prognosis

In the absence of successful treatment, hypertrophy (increased tissue mass) of the stains may occasionally produce deformity, loss of function (especially near the eye or mouth), bleeding, and increasing disfigurement. These complications are usually seen later in life. If the PWS is on the face or other highly visible part of the body, the presence of PWS can also cause emotional and social problems for the affected person because of their cosmetic appearance.

[edit] Epidemiology

The incidence is 3 out of 1,000 people.

[edit] Notable cases

The most famous person with a port-wine stain is former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, whose birthmark is located on his forehead.^[2] Other examples include young actor Branko Tomovic, actress Tempestt Bledsoe (The Cosby Show), pop star, Nick Lachey (who only learned about it when he shaved his head in college), Billy Corgan (whose stain covers much of his left hand and arm and inspired the name of his first band, The Marked), Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Delonte West, L.A. Weekly co-founder Joie Davidow and Charles William Eliot (1834-1926), a long-serving President of Harvard University (1869-1909).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Information about Port Wine Stains from Children's Hospital, Seattle.
• Birthmarks.com

v • d • e Congenital malformations and deformations of integument (Q80-Q84, 757) Congenital ichthyosis Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis - Harlequin type ichthyosis - Ichthyosis lamellaris - Ichthyosis vulgaris - Netherton syndrome - X-linked ichthyosis - Zunich-Kaye syndrome Epidermolysis bullosa Epidermolysis bullosa simplex - Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica Other skin disease Hereditary lymphedema - Mastocytosis - Meleda disease - Naegeli syndrome - Urticaria pigmentosa - Incontinentia pigmenti - Ectodermal dysplasia - EEM syndrome - Hay-Wells syndrome - Kindler syndrome - Port-wine stain - Cutis laxa - Darier's disease - Pseudoxanthoma elasticum - Keratosis pilaris DNA repair-deficiency disorder: Bloom syndrome - Rothmund-Thomson syndrome - Xeroderma pigmentosum Nail disease Leukonychia - Pachyonychia congenita Malformations of breast Amastia - Accessory breast - Athelia - Supernumerary nipple - Micromastia Hair disease Monilethrix - Sabinas brittle hair syndrome see also non-congenital (L, 680-709)