The new 940-nanometer diode laser: an effective treatment for leg venulectasia.
BACKGROUND
The 940-nm diode laser has been shown to be an effective treatment for leg veins.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the 940-nm diode laser on leg veins, depending on the size and morphologic aspect of the treated vessels.


METHODS
A total of 60 patients (mean age: 44.4 years, Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV) underwent up to 3 treatment sessions at 4-week intervals using the 940-nm diode laser. Treatment parameters were: vessels < 0.4 mm in diameter, 0.5-mm spot, pulse duration of 10 milliseconds, fluence 306 J/cm(2); 0.4 to 0.8 mm in diameter, 1-mm spot, pulse duration of 30 milliseconds, fluence 306 J/cm(2); and 0.8 to 1.4 mm in diameter, 1.5-mm spot, pulse duration of 70 milliseconds, fluence 317 J/cm(2). Repetition rate was 2.5 Hz. Success rate was evaluated through double-blind observation.


RESULTS
Only 13.33% of patients with telangiectases less than 0.4 mm in diameter had a percentage of vessel clearance superior to 75%. However, 88.24% of patients with vessels between 0.8 and 1.44 mm in diameter obtained more than 75% vessel clearance.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of leg veins by the 940-nm diode laser strongly depends on the size of the target vessel. Better results were obtained with 0.8- to 1.4-mm leg venulectases.
Department of Dermatology, Archet-2 Hospital, Nice, France.
Thierry
T
Passeron
Valérie
V
Olivier
Luc
L
Duteil
François
F
Desruelles
Eric
E
Fontas
Jean-Paul
JP
Ortonne
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome