Background: Earlier studies using Doppler ultrasound suggested that thigh telangiectasia might be associated with reflux in the larger subcutaneous veins.
Objective: The aim of the study was an accurate description of the anatomy of the venous drainage from thigh telangiectases and evaluation of the extent of venous valvular incompetence using a noninvasive imaging method.
Method: High-definition color duplex ultrasonography was used to achieve the objective.
Results: Thirty-seven legs with lateral and/or medial thigh telangiectasia were examined. Patients studied were those without saphenofemoral, saphenopopliteal, or deep venous abnormalities on Doppler ultrasound examination. Altogether 53 sites were tested. In 89% reticular vein incompetence was found close to telangiectases. Often reticular vein incompetence was associated with reflux in larger epifascial veins. In 15% incompetent perforating veins were detected between reticular veins and the deep venous system.
Conclusion: An accurate, functional reconstruction of the subcutaneous venous drainage was accomplished. It was found that telangiectasia was rarely an isolated condition, but was usually associated with incompetence in other elements in the venous drainage of the subcutaneous tissue.