eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Vessels

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome: Follow-up

Author: Basil S Cherpelis, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief of Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida; Consulting Staff, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital and James A Haley Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Neil A Fenske, MD, Director of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 23, 2008

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

New blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) GI lesions may continue to occur, so patients need periodic GI and hematologic surveillance studies.

Complications

Rarely, acute GI hemorrhage or CNS involvement may result in death.

Prognosis

The prognosis depends on the extent of visceral organ involvement. Most patients have a normal life span.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

Skin examinations should be performed on patients who present with abdominal pain or GI bleeding. Recognizing typical blue rubber bleb skin lesions would provide a potential diagnosis and could prevent unnecessary diagnostic procedures or invasive surgery.

 


More on Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome

Overview: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Treatment & Medication: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Follow-up: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Multimedia: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, BRBNS, Bean syndrome

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Basil S Cherpelis, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief of Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida; Consulting Staff, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital and James A Haley Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Basil S Cherpelis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Association of Professors of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Neil A Fenske, MD, Director of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC, Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, University of Toronto
Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA
Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Van Perry, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center
Van Perry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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