CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER TREATMENT FOR THE TUBEROUS COMPONENT OF PORT-WINE STAINS

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser is the treatment of choice for port-wine stains (PWS) but the tuberous compo nent of PWS responds poorly to this treatment, This study evaluated th e efficacy of vaporizing this component with a continuous carbon dioxi de (CO2) laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS The PWS tuberous components of 3 0 patients unresponsive to dye laser were treated with a continuous CO 2 laser. In 15 patients no anaesthesia was used, RESULTS All the lesio ns disappeared. A texture change was detected in 37% of the patients a nd one patient developed hypertrophic scarring. Patient satisfaction w as excellent in all cases, Pain was noted in only four of those patien ts who underwent treatment without anaesthesia. CONCLUSION CO2 laser v aporization of the tuberous lesions of PWS is an excellent option comp lementary to treatment with the pulsed-dye laser.