title: Pulsed dye laser treatment, a review of indications and outcome based on published trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment is based on the principle of selective photothermolysis and is widely considered to be the treatment of choice for a variety of cutaneous vascular lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the indications and outcome of PDL treatment and summarise new developments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature-based study has been conducted entailing the review of publications over the period January 1993-December 2003 using the databases Medline and Cochrane CENTRAL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PDL was found to be effective in port wine stain, facial telangiectasia, leg telangiectasia <0.5 mm, scars, hypertrophic scars and ulcerated haemangioma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Essential characteristics of lesions suitable for PDL treatment are discussed and guidelines are presented for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.m.smit@student.ru.nl
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bauland
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wijnberg
authors.forename: P H M
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Spauwen
mesh_terms: D002921:Cicatrix / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome