CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER THERAPY OF A WIDESPREAD EPIDERMAL NEVUS

Background and Objective: The treatment of epidermal nevi is difficult and often unsatisfactory. Many therapeutic approaches have been tried , of which the surgical methods including lasers aim to avoid recurren ces and hypertrophic scarring. Here we report the case of a widespread , life-impairing epidermal nevus, summarize the available treatment mo dalities, and discuss CO2 laser therapy with respect to the clinically soft variants of these developmental defects. Study Design/Patients a nd Methods: A patient with a widespread, recurrent, biopsy-proven epid ermal nevus was treated with a 10,600-nm CO2 laser. After test treatme nts in local anaesthesia, four sessions were performed under general a naesthesia each with a follow-up time of 4 years to date. Results: CO2 laser vaporization resulted in complete removal of the treated nevus without any obvious scarring. The patient is free of recurrence 4 year s postoperatively. Conclusion. CO2 laser treatment of epidermal nevi i s a useful modality in selected variants. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.