title: Treatment of macular seborrheic keratoses using a novel 1927-nm fractional thulium fiber laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Macular seborrheic keratoses (SK) are common, benign growths. A novel fractionated 1927-nm thulium fiber laser was selected to investigate efficacy and safety in the clearance of macular SK in nonfacial areas at a private dermatologic laser center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six subjects (average age 56.8 ± 9.5) with at least four 3-mm or larger macular SK on one extremity, neck, or chest were enrolled and provided informed consent. Subjects received three treatments at 3- to 4-week intervals. Subjects were treated at settings of 10 to 20 mJ with 30% to 55% surface area coverage and four to eight passes at each session. Investigators performed a global extremity SK count, an SK count within a 5- by 5-cm (25 cm(2)) square on transparency mapping, and lesion thickness grading. Side effects were assessed. Patients rated pain using a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, average global SK count was 43.2 ± 27.3. At 1-month follow-up, 20.7 ± 16.6 lesions remained. At 3- and 6-month follow-up, 17.7 ± 23.8 and 14.7 ± 18.6 lesions remained, respectively. A decrease in thickness and SK counts within the 5- by 5-cm square was also observed. Moderate erythema and mild edema were post-treatment responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nonablative fractional resurfacing using the 1927-nm thulium fiber laser is a safe and effective treatment modality to decrease nonfacial macular SK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, USA. kristelpolder@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kristel D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Polder
authors.forename: Anum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mithani
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013932:Thulium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium