Multiple Phlebectasia Involving Jejunum, Oral Cavity, and Scrotum

Concomitant multiple phlebectasia of the jejunum, oral mucosa, tongue ("caviar spots"), and scrotum (Fordyce lesion) was seen in 3 patients at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital. Gastrointestinal bleeding from the phlebectasia occurred in one of the patients. In our study of 100 consecutive patients, the mucocutaneous lesions occurred most often after the age of 40. Normal connective tissue support is lost as the tissues of the body age and a tendency for capillary and venous dilatation in the form of phlebectasia occurs. Duodenal ulcer or symptoms of peptic ulceration occurred in all 3 patients. Vascular malformations of the lips have been reported to occur more frequently in patients with peptic ulcer. If the mucocutaneous manifestations are present, multiple phlebectasia of the jejunum should be included in the differential diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.