Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia - A case report

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome is a systemic autosomal dominant vascular disorder characterized by recurrent hemorrhage with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 to 2 per 100,000 people. Major clinical manifestations include frequent epistaxis, mucosal telangiectases and arteriovenous malformations. In February 2001, a 60-year-old man complained of frequent bleeding of his tongue since his second decade. He had recurrent epistaxis, mucous membrane telangiectases and a positive family history. Computed tomography of the chest and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain showed no angiodysplasias. The tongue lesions were treated by using CO₂ laser. He is doing well except for occasional minor bleeding of tongue. We emphasize the importance of vascular screening, which is recommended for all HHT patients and their families, to reduce morbidity and mortality.