Transillumination of the fingers for vascular anomalies: a novel method for evaluating hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a novel approach for detecting vascular abnormalities deep in the digits by means of a handheld illuminator.


METHODS
Ten patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia were compared with 10 controls for telangiectases in the fingers using a handheld otoscope.


RESULTS
This noninvasive transillumination method revealed telangiectases in 9 of 10 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and none in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Transillumination of fingers with an otoscope identifies telangiectases in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of telangiectases in the finger and whether this finding is present in other vascular diseases.
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. mohlere@uphs.upenn.edu
Emile R
ER
Mohler
Vijay
V
Doraiswamy
Alexandra
A
Sibley
Barbara A
BA
Bernhardt
Reed E
RE
Pyeritz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014172:Transillumination / Q000379:methods*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis*