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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Spider Angioma
      Category : Health Centers > Cardiovascular (Circulatory System)

Spider Angioma

Alternate Names : Spider Vein, Spider Nevi

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Attribution


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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    Spider Angioma: Symptoms & Signs

    Author: Lynn West, MD
    Reviewer: Adam Brochert, MD
    Date Reviewed: 07/13/01









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    Page Last Updated: 30th May, 2006