title: Physical and dosimetric optimization of laser equipment in dermatology: a preliminary study.
abstract: The aim of this preliminary study is to investigate the correlation between clinical set-up at present used in the treatment of specific skin conditions and laser beam absorbed power in the tissue. This study focused on the CO2 and Nd-Yag laser equipment used in the daily clinical practice in the Department of Dermatology of San Gallicano Institute in Rome. Different types of tissue-equivalent material with various water and haemoglobin concentrations were tested to evaluate laser beam attenuation power. In particular, thinly sliced pork loin, of uniform consistency and without fat, was selected for its high content of haemoglobin to mimic human tissues. An optical power meter was used to measure the power or energy of a laser beam. During measurements, the tissue equivalent phantoms were positioned on the detector head and the laser beam was orthogonally oriented. The results of two experimental set-ups are reported here. The dependence of residual power (W) as a function of ex vivo tissue thickness (mm) for different laser output powers was studied. Data were fitted by a parametric logistic equation. These preliminary data allow for more accurately determining the energy fraction released from lasers to the tissues in order to improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soriani
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Alessio
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cattelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, San Gallicano Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cameli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, San Gallicano Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ungania
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tor Vergata University, 00173 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerrisi
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strigari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013552:Swine