Hemangiectatic Hypertrophy and Congenital Phlebarteriectasis

The purpose of this communication is to present observations that should be helpful in the diagnosis of hypertrophy. The term hemangiectatic hypertrophy of a limb denotes a condition of hypertrophy associated with increased vascularity of the affected extremity. This or developmental increased vascularity may be due to dilatation of both the arteries and the veins, the term congenital or developmental then being applied. Certain cirsoid aneurysms and plexiform hemangiomas of the scalp and face are probably of this nature. When the dilatation of the vessels is confined almost entirely to the veins, the term phlebectasis is applied. It should be noted that in phlebarteriectasis abnormal direct artery to vein anastomoses are not necessarily present, and that this condition is therefore to be differentiated from the more common traumatic or arteriovenous aneurysms. Fourteen cases of hypertrophy recorded up to 1918 were summarized by F. Parkes Weber.