Port wine stain: distribution patterns on the face and neck.

Abstract

One hundred and three port wine stains, maximum length 5.0 cm or more in adults, and the length of the patient's thumb or more in children, on the unilateral side, were selected to be part of an analysis of port wine stain distribution patterns. Port wine stain lesions were evaluated, and similar lesion patterns were grouped together and outlined on a face map. Six major patterns were found: forehead (F), temporal (T), angular (A), labio-infraorbito-(angular) (L-O and L-O-A), labio-infraorbito-angulo-(forehead)-temporal (L-O-A-[F]-T) and jaw-neck (J-N). A wide-ranging, unilateral, or even bilateral port wine stain may be evaluated as a mixed form, which is composed of several standard patterns of port wine stains. The cause of port wine stains is also briefly discussed.