Definition

Noun: A type of congenital, non-cancerous skin marking characterized by a flat, irregular patch that varies in color from pink to dark purple. It is caused by a malformation of capillaries in the skin and is present from birth.

Usage

• nevus flammeus is a medical term. It is typically used in formal, clinical, or scientific contexts to describe a specific congenital condition.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• The dermatologist diagnosed the reddish patch on the infant's neck as a nevus flammeus.
• Nevus flammeus is often located on the face or neck and may darken with age.
• Unlike some birthmarks, a nevus flammeus does not fade over time.

Advanced Usage

• The plural form is nevi flammei, following Latin grammatical rules.
• In medical documentation, it is often documented as part of a patient's history: "Patient presents with a congenital nevus flammeus on the left cheek."

Variants and Related Words

• Port-wine stain: This is the common, non-medical term for a nevus flammeus. It describes its characteristic deep red or purple color, resembling spilled port wine.
• Capillary malformation: A broader technical term describing the underlying vascular cause of a nevus flammeus.
• Birthmark: A general, non-specific term for any congenital skin mark, which can include nevus flammeus, café-au-lait spots, and moles.

Synonyms

• Port-wine stain
• Capillary hemangioma (in some specific, older classifications, though this term is now more precisely used for a different, raised vascular growth)

Different Meanings

• Nevus: By itself, "nevus" (plural: nevi) is a general term for a circumscribed, stable malformation of the skin, commonly called a mole. Nevus flammeus is a specific subtype of nevus involving blood vessels.
• The term nevus flammeus does not have other distinct, unrelated meanings outside of this specific medical context.

Noun

1. a flat birthmark varying from pink to purple