spider nevus
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A spider nevus is a small, benign skin lesion characterized by a central red dot (a dilated arteriole) from which tiny blood vessels (capillaries) radiate outward, resembling a spider's web or a spider's legs.
Usage
This term is used in medical and dermatological contexts to describe a specific type of vascular skin condition. * The dermatologist identified the small, red mark on the patient's cheek as a spider nevus. * Spider nevi can sometimes be associated with liver disease or hormonal changes.
Advanced Usage
- Clinical Significance: While often harmless and common, the appearance of multiple spider nevi can be a clinical sign prompting further investigation into underlying conditions such as liver cirrhosis or high estrogen states (e.g., pregnancy).
- The presence of several new spider nevi led the physician to order liver function tests.
Variants and Related Words
- Spider Angioma: A fully synonymous term.
- Nevus Araneus: The Latin medical term.
- Vascular Spider: A common descriptive synonym.
- Nevus (pl. Nevi): A general term for a circumscribed, stable lesion of the skin or mucosa, which can be vascular (like a spider nevus) or pigmented (like a mole).
Synonyms
- Spider angioma
- Nevus araneus
- Vascular spider
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific medical condition. One could contrast it with terms for other skin lesions (e.g., papule, macule, cyst).
Related Phrases
- "Blanches on pressure": A key diagnostic feature of a spider nevus; when the central dot is pressed, the entire lesion temporarily fades because blood is forced out of the dilated vessels.
- The doctor confirmed it was a spider nevus because it blanched on pressure.
Noun
- a dilation of superficial capillaries with a central red dot from which blood vessels radiate