Angiokeratoma Circumscriptum Workup

  • Author: William P Baugh, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 13, 2012
 

Imaging Studies

  • Imaging studies are not usually indicated in the evaluation of this superficial cutaneous vascular lesion. If multiple grouped angiokeratomas are found overlying the spine in a newborn or an infant, an MRI of the spine may be prudent to exclude spinal dysraphism or Cobb syndrome.
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Procedures

  • The laboratory evaluation that confirms the diagnosis is a biopsy. The biopsy result will eliminate melanoma from the clinical differential.
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Histologic Findings

The histopathologic features of angiokeratoma circumscriptum are similar to those seen in other clinical types of angiokeratomas (eg, Mibelli type, Fordyce type, Fabry disease). The process has an exophytic profile, with numerous ectatic thin-walled vascular channels that expand the papillary dermis. Thrombosis of these vessels is common and is responsible for the clinical mimicry of melanoma. The overlying epidermis encompasses the vascular spaces, often with a collarette, and displays variable degrees of acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. The hyperkeratotic scale may be orthokeratotic and parakeratotic. The dermal connective tissue is usually not involved, but it may contain a few siderophages.

Low-magnification histologic view reveals some hypLow-magnification histologic view reveals some hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with rete ridges surrounding dilated vascular channels in the papillary dermis. This mid-power histologic view reveals dilated vesThis mid-power histologic view reveals dilated vessels in the papillary and upper reticular dermis. The vessels are packed with red blood cells; this finding is suggestive of vessel thrombosis. This high-power histologic view reveals some hyperThis high-power histologic view reveals some hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with rete ridges surrounding dilated vascular channels in the papillary dermis. Dilated vessels in the papillary and upper reticular dermis are observed. The vessels are packed with red blood cells; this finding is suggestive of vessel thrombosis. A normal-appearing vascular endothelium is found. No evidence of a melanocytic lesion is present.

The lesions of Fabry disease may be differentiated from other forms of angiokeratoma because lipid-containing cytoplasmic vacuoles can sometimes be detected in endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes.

Lymphangioma circumscriptum, perhaps the most similar to angiokeratoma circumscriptum, is a clinically distinctive vascular malformation consisting of dilated lymphatic channels arrayed within the papillary dermis. Sometimes, these lymphangiectatic spaces are filled with serosanguineous lymph fluid, but hemorrhage into the spaces can render them microscopically indistinguishable from those of angiokeratomas. At present, no immunoperoxidase markers allow definitive distinction of blood vascular endothelium from lymphatic vascular endothelium.

Verrucous hemangioma is a descriptive term that is used to classify conventional hemangiomas in which associated verrucous epidermal changes are present. Although the superficial changes in a verrucous hemangioma can be identical to those of an angiokeratoma, usually a greater degree of depth and vascular proliferation are evident in the hemangioma. In short, angiokeratomas are typically confined to the papillary dermis, whereas verrucous hemangiomas involve all levels of the dermis and may extend to involve the subcutis.

Other vascular lesions can be associated with capillary dilatation. The diverse list of diseases includes entities such as generalized essential telangiectasia, unilateral nevoid telangiectasia, angioma serpiginosa, and Osler-Weber-Rendu disease. These syndromes lack the overlying epidermal changes seen in angiokeratomas; therefore, they are not usually included in the pathologic differential diagnosis of angiokeratoma.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

William P Baugh, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine and Western School of Medicine; Medical Director, Full Spectrum Dermatology; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Jude Medical Center

William P Baugh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and Christian Medical & Dental Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Cynthia L Chen  Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Cynthia L Chen is a member of the following medical societies: American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, California Medical Association, and Los Angeles County Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Terry L Barrett, MD  Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine; Director, ProPath Dermatopathology, Dallas, Texas

Terry L Barrett, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, College of American Pathologists, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Timothy McCalmont, MD  Director, UCSF Dermatopathology Service, Professor of Clinical Pathology and Dermatology, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cutaneous Pathology

Timothy McCalmont, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, California Medical Association, College of American Pathologists, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Apsara Consulting fee Independent contractor

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rosalie Elenitsas, MD  Herman Beerman Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Director, Penn Cutaneous Pathology Services, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Rosalie Elenitsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology

Disclosure: Lippincott Williams Wilkins Royalty Textbook editor; DLA Piper Consulting fee Consulting

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE  Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

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A hyperkeratotic, asymmetric, variably pigmented, black 3 X 4-mm papule was found on the upper right medial part of the arm of this 18-year-old woman, who was concerned about melanoma. The histologic analysis revealed a thrombosed angiokeratoma circumscriptum.
Close-up view of an asymmetric black angiokeratoma mimicking a melanoma.
Low-magnification histologic view reveals some hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with rete ridges surrounding dilated vascular channels in the papillary dermis.
This mid-power histologic view reveals dilated vessels in the papillary and upper reticular dermis. The vessels are packed with red blood cells; this finding is suggestive of vessel thrombosis.
This high-power histologic view reveals some hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with rete ridges surrounding dilated vascular channels in the papillary dermis. Dilated vessels in the papillary and upper reticular dermis are observed. The vessels are packed with red blood cells; this finding is suggestive of vessel thrombosis. A normal-appearing vascular endothelium is found. No evidence of a melanocytic lesion is present.
 
 
 
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