Venous lake

A venous lake is an asymptomatic, generally solitary, soft, compressible, dark blue to violaceous, 0.2- to 1-cm papule commonly found on sun-exposed surfaces of the vermilion border of the lip, face and ears.^[1][2][3] Lesions generally occur among the elderly.^[4]

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Though these lesions may resemble nodular melanoma, the lack of induration, slow growth, and lightening appearance upon diascopy suggest against it, and indicate a vascular lesion.^[5] Additionally, lack of pulsation distinguishes this lesion of the lower lip from a tortuous segment of the inferior labial artery.^[3]

Images

Cause

The cause is unknown; however it is thought to be associated with sun exposure, leading to a dilated blood-filled vascular channel^[1] "...lined with a singled layer of flattened endothelial cells and a thin wall of fibrous tissue filled with red blood cells."^[5]

Treatment

Treatment is not necessary, and patients should be reassured of the lesion's non-malignant nature. However, if treatment is sought for cosmetic reasons, lesions can be treated with surgical excision, laser therapy, infrared coagulation, cryotherapy, and sclerotherapy.^[3][4][5][6]