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Spider veins or telangiectasias of the legs are common findings and appear to some extent in most people as they age. While treatment for these veins is usually for cosmetic reasons, many patients have pain and discomfort and are surprised at the relief they receive from treatment.
Spider veins are well-defined small veins measuring from 0.1mm to 1mm in diameter and appear on the surface layer of the skin. They may appear as scattered irregular veins but commonly occur in clusters. They may occur anywhere on the lower extremities. Complexes appearing on the lateral thigh are thought to be a vestige of embryonic development and often begin to appear in the teenage years. Dense clusters on the ankle may indicate venous incompetence of the saphenous vein system, i.e. failure of the valves of the great saphenous vein, the small saphenous vein, or both. As such an ultrasound study of these veins should be done prior to any treatment, as treatment of spider veins in the presence of saphenous vein incompetence usually is unsuccessful.
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