Pinocchio Nose (Vascular Tumor at the Tip of the Nose)

The nose of the character Pinocchio becomes red in color when he lies or is under stress, then returns to its normal state.

Tumors associated with a Pinocchio nose:

(1) hemangioma

(2) angiolipoma

(3) lymphangioma

Clinical and pathologic features:

(1) The patient has a lesion at the nose, often at the tip.

(2) The lesion may change size and color if the person is under stress.

(3) A biopsy of the lesion shows a vascular tumor, usually benign.

(4) No other condition (infection, metastatic tumor, etc) can explain the findings better.