Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy: light and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy is a rare acquired idiopathic microangiopathy characterized by progressive development of diffuse asymptomatic telangiectasias and histologically by accumulation of collagen type IV around the affected vessels. It is diagnosed by its clinical history, confirmed by light microscopy with collagen-specific immunostaining. We report a case of a patient with extensive acquired telangiectasias on the left arm, clinically resembling unilateral nevoid telangiectasia. Dilated blood vessels with thickened walls were observed in the dermis. Immunohistochemistry with collagen IV antibodies revealed marked collagen deposition around the vessels, confirming the diagnosis. Transmission electron microscopy observed duplicate and triplicate vascular basal membrane associated with deposition of amorphous material around the membranes.