Port wine stain treatment with a dual-wavelength Nd:Yag laser and cryogen spray cooling: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
We report on a pilot study of port wine stain (PWS) treatment with a prototype Nd:YAG/KTP laser system, emitting simultaneously at 1,064 and 532 nm, and equipped with a cryogen spray cooling (CSC) device.


METHODS
On 10 patients (4-36 years old, mean: 16.2 years) with skin types II-III, therapeutic efficacy of the dual-wavelength laser (KTP+) was compared with a standard KTP laser (532 nm only) at the same pulse duration (25 millisecond), spot diameter (3 mm), and CSC parameters. The fluences were selected in order to obtain the same immediate response with both laser systems. Blanching of each test segment was assessed 8 weeks post treatment by an independent evaluator and by the subjects, and graded on a 1-4 scale.


RESULTS
Significant blanching of PWS was noted 8 weeks after a single therapeutic session with the KTP+ laser (mean: 532 nm radiant exposure: 8.2 J/cm(2)), very similar to that observed with KTP at 12.4 J/cm(2). The evaluator noticed a slight brownish coloration in areas treated with the KTP+ laser. Isolated beam-sized atrophic scars were present in two patients where KTP+ (9 and 10 J/cm(2)) and KTP (14 J/cm(2)) lasers were used.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of 1,064 nm radiation allowed a significant reduction of 532 nm radiant exposure with no loss of efficacy in PWS treatment.
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, University Medical Center Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. uros.ahcan@guest.arnes.si
Uros
U
Ahcan
Peter
P
Zorman
Dejan
D
Recek
Simon
S
Ralca
Boris
B
Majaron
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000336:Aerosols; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C015531:tetrafluoroethylene