LASER THERAPY OF CHILDHOOD HEMANGIOMAS

A total of 37 haemangiomas were treated in 28 patients by means of the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL). Twenty-nine haemangiomas we re classified as superficial, and eight as mixed type. With FPDL treat ment, excellent or good results were obtained in nearly 60% of superfi cial haemangiomas and 40% of mixed haemangiomas. In three of four pati ents with mixed type haemangiomas good results were obtained by means of Nd:YAG laser irradiation. In two patients, small superficial haeman giomas were removed by argon laser coagulation or CO2 laser vaporizati on, respectively. These results indicate that many children benefit fr om laser therapy of haemangiomas. Side-effects were rare. The FPDL is the treatment modality of choice for superficial haemangiomas, and the Nd:YAG laser for thicker lesions. Based on our results and the result s reported in the literature, early laser therapy of childhood haemang iomas can be recommended.