When You See Thick Vessels in the Biopsy, Think of Cutaneous Collagenous Vasculopathy

Cutaneous collagenous vasculopathy (CCV) is a recently described microangiopathy characterized by deposition in the vessel wall of material derived from the basement membrane. Although mainly seen in adult males, it has recently been reported in women and pediatric cases. It differs from other telangiectatic syndromes (e.g., hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, ataxia-telangiectasia) not only by thick vessels in histology but also by absence of involvement of mucosa and conjunctiva in the head and neck. Its etiology is uncertain but is believed to be multifactorial, with trauma and diabetes playing some role. The authors of this retrospective review describe four patients (3 men; ages, 41–70).

The clinical presentation of CCV included bila…