Transillumination of the fingers for vascular anomalies: a novel method for evaluating hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

PURPOSE: We describe a novel approach for detecting vascular abnormalities deep in the digits by means of a handheld illuminator.

METHODS: Ten patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia were compared with 10 controls for telangiectases in the fingers using a handheld otoscope.

RESULTS: This noninvasive transillumination method revealed telangiectases in 9 of 10 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and none in controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Transillumination of fingers with an otoscope identifies telangiectases in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of telangiectases in the finger and whether this finding is present in other vascular diseases.