Acquired digital arteriovenous malformation: a report of three cases and study with epiluminescence microscopy.

Abstract

Acquired digital arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between the arteriole and venule in the finger, fed by the digital vessels. Lesions are characterized by small, slightly raised dark-red macules on the distal part of the fingers. In the past, similar cases had been described using the terms 'cutaneous keratotic haemangioma' and 'periungual and subungual arteriovenous tumours'. In this article, we would like to discuss three additional cases that were studied using epiluminescence microscopy. Pathological findings and the possible pathogenesis are also presented.