title: Comparison of pulsed dye laser (PDL) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of facial port-wine stain (PWS) birthmarks in pediatric patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular-acting photodynamic therapy (PDT) might be an alternative approach for treating port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks, but the usefulness of PDT for pediatric patients has not been fully investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of pediatric patients (3-10 years old) with red and purple facial PWS were analyzed. Clinical outcomes after one session of PDL (585 nm, 4.8-6.5 J/cm(2)) and PDT (Hemoporfin - 3.5mg/kg, copper vapour laser - 120 J/cm(2)) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of excellent response in PDT group was significantly higher than that in PDL group (25.0% vs 10.9%). For red lesions there was no significant difference in overall response between PDL and PDT group, but for purple lesions the overall response rate of PDT group was significantly higher than that of PDL group (93.0% vs 75.6%). Lesions located at the forehead, cheek and jaw regions showed better responses to PDT. Incidences of pigmentation and scar formation in PDT group were significantly lower than PDL group (8.3% vs 21.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that PDT is safe and effective for treating facial PWS of childhood patients.
authors: Laser Plastic and Aesthetic Center, Liuhuaqiao Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Tao-Hua
authors: TH
authors: Zhang
authors: MOE Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: zheng_huang@msn.com.
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Huang
authors: Laser Plastic and Aesthetic Center, Liuhuaqiao Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Laser Plastic and Aesthetic Center, Liuhuaqiao Hospital, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: ykaihua@163.com.
authors: Kai-Hua
authors: KH
authors: Yuan
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: doctorhzq@hotmail.com.
authors: Zhi-Qi
authors: ZQ
authors: Hu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006415:Hematoporphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006415:Hematoporphyrins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; C494379:hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether
keywords: PDL; PDT; Pediatric patients; Port-wine stain birthmarks