An unusual presentation of generalized essential telangiectasia

Generalized essential telangiectasia (GET) is a rare skin condition of unknown aetiology. We report a case of a 39-year-old man who presented to the ophthalmology department with reduced vision, and was diagnosed with generalized essential telangiectasia by indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography of his eyes. The patient was noted to have corneal neovascularization (which was responsible for his reduced visual acuity) and conjunctival telangiectases seen by angiography. Further examination by the dermatology department identified widespread telangiectases on the patient's legs and trunk. Systemic causes and alternative diagnoses were excluded by further investigations, and the patient was eventually diagnosed with GET. Following discharge from the dermatology department, the patient presented with chest pain and required emergency surgery for a type A thoracic aortic dissection. Previous research has not identified an association between GET, corneal neovascularization and thoracic aortic aneurysm formation.