Epidermal nevi treated by carbon dioxide laser vaporization: a series of 25 patients.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal nevi are benign proliferations of epidermis. Numerous treatment modalities have been tried, but no ideal treatment is yet available.


OBJECTIVE
To report our experience with CO(2) laser vaporization in the treatment of verrucous epidermal nevi, and to identify which factors could have influence in long-term results.


METHODS
A total of 25 patients were treated with the CO(2) laser in the superpulsed mode, focalized at 2 W/cm(2). The patients were between 3 and 41 years old (mean: 17 years). A total of 44% of lesions were <20 cm(2), 40% measured between 20 and 100 cm(2) and 16% were >100 cm(2). The follow-up was 4-79 months (mean: 28 months). In 76% of patients, multiple treatment sessions were required.


RESULTS
Good results were achieved in 92% of patients with soft, flattened nevi and in only 33% patients with keratotic nevi. In addition, 87% of the latter had moderate results and 12.5% had poor results.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the CO(2) laser in superpulsed mode is an effective and safe treatment for verrucous epidermal nevi and provides fewer recurrences than other laser therapies. We also believe that the most determining factor for the cosmetic result is thickness of the nevus.
Paradela
Sabela
S
Department of Dermatology, Hospital Juan Canalejo, La Coruña, Spain.
Del Pozo
Jesús
J
Fernández-Jorge
Beatriz
B
Lozano
Jesús
J
Martínez-González
Covadonga
C
Fonseca
Eduardo
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002245:Carbon Dioxide