Generalized Congenital Phlebectasia

FOUR INSTANCES of generalized congenital phlebectasia have been described previously. In 1922, Von Lohuizen1reported on a vascular abnormality in a newborn infant. He called the condition "cutis marmorata telangiectica congenita." The same year Von Giles2reported a similar case. The first report in the English literature was by Humphries3in 1952. He utilized the term "generalized congenital phlebectasia." The fourth case was described by Bedell and Allison4in 1964. Generalized congenital phlebectasia should be differentiated from the so-called diffuse genuine phlebectasia, first described by Bockenheimer in 1907, as quoted by Schmidt.5The former is present at birth and appears to have a benign course. The latter is a slowly progressing lesion of the venous system of an extremity. The enlarged veins form large strands and tumorlike prominences, over which the skin frequently becomes atrophic. If the condition is left untreated, serious complications ensue. Thus