title: Comparison of the 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laser therapy is the treatment of choice for cherry angiomas since it is more effective and has better cosmetic results. There is no comparative study about the treatment efficacies with KTP and Nd:YAG lasers for cherry angiomas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and side effects of 532-nm KTP and 1064-nm Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of cherry angiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two comparable lesions of the same patient were chosen. One of them was treated with the KTP laser while the other was treated with the Nd:YAG laser. Sessions were repeated every 4 weeks until complete clearance was achieved. Side effects were evaluated using a severity scale (0 to 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of sessions was significantly higher with the KTP than with the Nd:YAG laser (p = 0.002). Erythema, edema, pain and scar formation were higher in the Nd:YAG laser group (erythema: p = 0.001; edema: p < 0.001; pain: p < 0.001; scar: p < 0.001). The hyperpigmentation rate was statistically higher with the KTP laser (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both KTP and Nd:YAG lasers were found to be effective methods. The Nd:YAG laser offered fewer treatment sessions, but a higher risk of scar formation. The KTP laser seems more advantageous, but in dark-skinned patients the Nd:YAG laser may be preferable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gunseli Sefika
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pancar
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Nilgun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senturk
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bek
authors.forename: M Tayyar
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Canturk
authors.forename: Ahmet Yasar
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Turanli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric