Capillary Malformations

(Nevus Flammeus; Port-Wine Stain; Nevi Flammei)

By Denise M. Aaron, MD, New, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Click here for
Patient Education

NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: Click here for the Consumer Version

Benign Skin Tumors, Growths, and Vascular Lesions
Atypical Moles
Capillary Malformations
Cutaneous Cysts
Dermatofibromas
Infantile Hemangiomas
Keloids
Lipomas
Lymphatic Malformations
Moles
Nevus Araneus
Pyogenic Granulomas
Seborrheic Keratoses
Skin Tags
Vascular Lesions of the Skin

Capillary malformations are present at birth and appear as flat, pink, red, or purplish lesions.

Port-wine stains are flat, reddish to purple lesions appearing anywhere on the body. Lesions become darker and more palpable with time (often becoming quite hyperplastic by late middle age), but the lateral extent increases only in proportion to the growth of the patient. Port-wine stains of the trigeminal area may be a component of the Sturge-Weber syndrome (in which a similar vascular lesion appears on the underlying meninges and cerebral cortex and is associated with seizures).

Diagnosis of capillary malformations is made clinically. Imaging studies may be indicated, depending on findings, to diagnose associated syndromes (eg, Sturge-Weber syndrome).