Disorders of the Blood Vessels and Lymphatics

Cutaneous vascular disorders include a group of conditions that affect blood vessels such as arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. They manifest in various clinical spectrums, ranging from telangiectasias that can cause only aesthetic problems to a wide spectrum of skin vascular lesions in potentially life-threatening diseases such as systemic vasculitis. Chronic venous insufficiency is characterized by varicose veins in the early stages of the disease and venous ulcers in advanced disease. Cutaneous vasculitis affects small- and medium-sized vessels and may also present with a broad range of lesions, including palpable purpura, petechiae, urticarial papules, plaques, nodules, ulcers, livedo reticularis, and target-like lesions. Lymphadenitis (inflammation of one or more lymph nodes) and lymphedema (inflammation of lymphatic channels) are common diseases that affect the lymphatic system. Some vascular malformations are described under the Chap. 31