Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy: light and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a rare acquired idiopathic microangiopathy characterized by progressive development of diffuse asymptomatic telangiectasias and histologically by accumulation of collagen type IV around the affected vessels. It is diagnosed by its clinical history, confirmed by light microscopy with collagen-specific immunostaining. We report a case of a patient with extensive acquired telangiectasias on the left arm, clinically resembling unilateral nevoid telangiectasia. Dilated blood vessels with thickened walls were observed in the dermis. Immunohistochemistry with collagen IV antibodies revealed marked collagen deposition around the vessels, confirming the diagnosis. Transmission electron microscopy observed duplicate and triplicate vascular basal membrane associated with deposition of amorphous material around the membranes.

Técnica inovadora para tratamento de flacidez cervical com fio mononylon para sustentação transmastoide / Innovative technique for the treatment of cervical laxity with mononylon thread for trans-mastoid support

Existem muitos procedimentos para o rejuvenescimento da região cervical; os mais invasivos, porém, como a ritidectomia, podem gerar cicatrizes inestéticas relativamente grandes. Em contrapartida, procedimentos pouco invasivos, como os clássicos fios de sustentação absorvíveis, não têm efeito significativo no tratamento das bandas platismais mais evidentes. Visando solucionar o problema da pouca durabilidade relacionada aos fios de sustentação e eliminar a cicatriz submentoniana indesejável causada pela ritidoplastia, descreve-se uma técnica pouco invasiva para tratamento da flacidez cervical, que pode ser usada isoladamente em pacientes com pouca redundância de pele, ou associada ao minilifting nos pacientes com muita flacidez.

There are many procedures for the rejuvenation of the cervical region. Nevertheless, the most invasive ones ­ such as the rhytidectomy ­ can lead to relatively large unaesthetic scars. In contrast, noninvasive procedures ­ such as the classic absorbable lifting threads ­ have no significant effect on the treatment of the most evident platysmal bands. Aiming at solving the problem of short durability linked to the lifting threads and eliminating the undesirable submental scar caused by rhytidoplasty, a less invasive technique is described for the treatment of cervical laxity. This technique can be used isolatedly in patients with small amounts of skin redundancy, or associated to mini face lifts in patients with considerable sagginess.

Case for diagnosis

The Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome or Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a systemic fibrovascular dysplasia characterized by defects in the elastic and vascular walls of blood vessels, making them varicose and prone to disruptions. Lesions occur in different organs and can lead to hemorrhage in the lungs, digestive tract and brain. We describe the case of a patient with cutaneous manifestations and severe impairment of the digestive tract. It is important for the dermatologist to recognize this syndrome, since the cutaneous lesions may play a key role in diagnosis.