Spider Naevi, Naevus Araneus, Vascular Spiders

Spider naevi (colloquially called vascular spiders; synonyms: hepatic nevus; nevus araneus; spider; spider naevi; spider naevus; spider naevus; spider angioma; spider nevus; cobweb nevus; stellate bangioma; Eng. spider nevus, spider angioma; ICD-10 I78.1: spider nevus) are vascular neoplasms with 0.2 to 1.0 cm of web-like redness. They may occur singly or in groups.

Symptoms – Complaints

Spider naevi is a telangiectasia (vasodilatation) associated with a small, red dot-like vascular nodule that is somewhat raised and usually just about the size of the head of a pin. Small vessels extend outward from this vascular nodule like a spider web.

If spider naevi occur in large numbers and dense seeding, a disease must be considered (see below “Pathogenesis – Etiology”).

Localization: frequently on the head, but also on the neck, hands, and chest (thorax).

Pathogenesis (disease development) – etiology (causes)

Spider naevi can appear as early as infancy. Likewise, they are observed in pregnant women, although they usually regress after delivery.

People who have chronic liver disease or scleroderma (chronic connective tissue disease) may also develop spider naevi. In the past, vascular spiders were also called “liver spiders” because of their association with diseases of the liver.

In addition to these diseases, vascular spiders are more common in CREST syndrome (calcinosis cutis, Raynaud’s syndrome, esophageal motility disorder, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias; synonym: limited systemic scleroderma, lSSc), a collagenosis (autoimmune disease that predominantly affects connective tissue and blood vessels when systemic).

Therapy

  • If the number and density of spider naevi are large, disease must be ruled out.
  • Diathermy needle: coagulation (cooking) with an electric needle.
  • Laser therapy: pulsed dye laser, argon laser.