title: Comparative histochemistry of port-wine stains after copper vapor laser (578 nm) and argon laser treatment.
abstract: The present study compared the histologic changes occurring 15 min after copper vapor laser (CVL; operating at 578 nm) and argon laser (488/514 nm) treatment of port-wine stains (PWS) over a range of energy densities (8-32 J/cm2) with corresponding pulse widths of 50-200 ms. Frozen tissue sections were stained with nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBTC). This histochemical method permits an accurate color differentiation between blue-stained viable and unstained thermally damaged cells. At 8, 10, and 12 J/cm2 the argon-laser injury was confined to epidermal cell layers; none to superficial dermal effects were found. Fluences of at least 15 J/cm2 produced a diffuse NBTC-negative coagulation necrosis. Exposure of PWS skin to 8-12 J/cm2 at 578 nm did not alter the integrity of epidermal cells. In the dermis, damage was confined to blood vessels and surrounding collagen, showing a clear demarcation from adjacent viable structures. The maximum penetration depth achieved with these vessel selective energy densities was 0.44 mm. At 15 J/cm2, besides vascular injury, damage to the basal cell layer also occurred. At fluences of 17-20 J/cm2 a diffuse necrosis similar to that induced by the argon laser was found. Vessel selectivity of the 578 nm wave band was achieved with pulse widths from 50-74 ms, exceeding the estimated "ideal" exposure time (0.1-10.0 ms) for a vascular selective laser effect. The NBTC method allowed identification of subtle laser-induced tissue changes providing accurate quantitative data relating to the extent of vascular injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology II, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Austria.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Knobler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leonhartsberger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gebhart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium