Spider Angioma
Alternate Names : Spider Vein, Spider Nevi
A spider angioma is a collection of tiny dilated blood vessels. The vessels usually radiate out from a central point and resemble the legs of a spider.
What is going on in the body?
A spider angioma is formed when a group of blood vessels dilates in a characteristic "spider leg" pattern. A spider angioma can be seen in a healthy person without any apparent cause, but is more common in individuals with liver disease or altered hormone levels.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
A spider angioma can occur in a healthy person with no apparent cause, and may occasionally be seen on a child's face. However, a spider angioma is more likely to occur in:
a pregnant woman
a woman taking hormone replacement therapy, specifically estrogen therapy
a person with chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis
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