title: Long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser treatment for port-wine stains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser treatment of port-wine stain (PWS) might be improved using a deeply penetrating wavelength.
  
  
  METHODS
  PWSs in 17 patients were treated 3 times with a 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) and a 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Fluences of 1.0, 0.8, and 0.6 times the minimum purpura dose (MPD) were used for Nd:YAG laser. Posttreatment biopsy specimens were taken. Blind assessment and quantitative analysis of PWS clearing were performed from digital photographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPD for Nd:YAG laser varied widely, from 40 to 250 J/cm 2 . Purpura lasted longer after PDL. Treatment achieved similar 50% to 75% clearing with both PDL and Nd:YAG laser at 1 MPD. Nd:YAG caused greater perivascular and epidermal injury. Scarring occurred in the only patient treated with a Nd:YAG fluence greater than 1 MPD. Patients preferred Nd:YAG laser because of their faster recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nd:YAG laser used at MPD is as effective as PDL for treating PWS. Nd:YAG laser fluences higher than MPD may cause scarring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Marjorie U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Anna N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Yaroslavsky
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Farinelli
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Flotte
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rius-Diaz
authors.forename: Sandy S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: R Rox
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*