Bulging vein or artery? What is this? Can it be treated? (photo)

Thank you for your inquiry and thanks for sending pictures. I see a lot of patients with enlarged temple veins and some bulging temple arteries. From your pictures it looks like what you have is an enlarged branch of superficial temporal artery.  The veins can be removed with sclerotherapy or phlebectomy but I do not recommend treatment of an enlarged artery.  Wishing you the best of health, Dr Wright.

It’s important to distinguish between varicose veins and spider veins when choosing between laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and vein surgery. With two board certified vein specialists, our center uses a combination of visual examination, functional flow measurements, ultrasound, transillumination, and infrared light to map out vein networks prior to therapy. Lasers can be used to treat deep varicose vein insufficiency, vein perforators, and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is ideal for spider veins and reticular veins. Whereas surgery is reserved for severely incompetent varicose vein segments.


 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

What you describe (and the what the photos show) is your superficial temporal artery. While veins in that area may also be present, a simple exam, and if necessary, a superficial ultrasound can easily distinguish between the two. Veins will also not have a pulse. While temporal artery biopsies are necessary for some rare conditions, and that artery is expendable, it should NEVER be treated with sclerotherapy.

Arteries are high pressure vessels that pulsate. Veins are much lower pressure and do not pulsate.  These are either the temporal artery and/or branches or perhaps an enlarged vein and the pulse you feel may be the underlying artery that may not be visible in the same area as the enlarged vein.  If the appearance or something else concerns you, see a vein specialist or vascular surgeon for treatment options.

The pictures look like the temporal arteries.  However, the temporal veins can look very similar. Arteries pulsate and veins do not. See a vascular surgeon or vein specialist and they will be able to distinguish the two.