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Medical Cases

Port wine stain case

History: A 8-month girl was brought to Dermatology OPD by her mother with a diffuse reddish macular lesion on the right side of her face present since birth. Lesion was smaller, lighter in colour & gradually increased in size. What’s the diagnosis?

Intro: Port wine stain (nevus flammeus) is a discoloration caused by a capillary malformation in the skin. Named after fortified red wine from Portugal.

Cause: Mutation in GNAQ gene on chromosome 9q21 & RASA1 gene. Associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome or Klippel–Trénaunay-Weber syndrome.

Types: Nevus flammeus nuchae, Midline nevus flammeus.

CF: Flat & pink asymptomatic macular patch usually seen at birth or may be acquired. Color may deepen to a dark red or purplish color in adults. Common sites are face, head, neck, abdomen, legs, or arms.

Dx: History based, skin biopsy, MRI Brain (R/O Sturge–Weber syndrome).

Rx:  Pulse Dye or Nd: YAG or KTP Laser, surgery excision, radiation, tattooing, rapamycin LA. If left untreated, these vascular lesions may deepen in color or may undergo hypertrophy & nodular thickening.

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