A 24-year-old woman developed extremely painful lesions, resembling Kaposi's sarcoma, on two toes. This condition has previously been termed angiodermatitis. The cutaneous lesions were secondary to a developmental arteriovenous malformation of the foot. Resection of the vascular anomaly was unsuccessful and was followed in two weeks by amputation of two toes. Six months later the corresponding metatarsals were resected and the dorsalis pedis artery ligated. The subject of developmental arteriovenous shunts, their effects, and treatment is reviewed.