title: Analysis of 28 Chinese Cases of Bilateral Nevus of Ota and Therapeutic Results With the Q-Switched Alexandrite Laser.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytic lesion that presents as bluish hyperpigmentation along the first or second branch of the trigeminal nerve. It is common in Asians. However, bilateral involvement is rare. There has been no detailed report on bilateral involvement in Chinese people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinical data on bilateral nevus of Ota in Chinese patients and determine the efficacy of pulsed q-switched alexandrite laser treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight cases of bilateral nevus of Ota were diagnosed by clinical appearance, and detailed clinical data were collected. A q-switched alexandrite laser was used for treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of bilateral nevus of Ota was 1.4% (28 of 1985). More than 3 regions were involved in most patients (96.4%), and symmetrical lesions were observed in approximately 60% of cases (17 of 28). The lesion was seen at or soon after birth in 15 patients (53.6%); two-thirds of these patients (10 of 15) had ocular or mucosal involvement. The therapeutic results were excellent or good in 17 cases; the group that received more than 3 treatments and age of starting treatment being less than 6 years had better therapeutic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pulsed q-switched alexandrite laser is an effective treatment, and earlier intervention with more sessions achieves better results.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China; †Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Gaoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Sanusi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuyana
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Yating
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009507:Nevus of Ota / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult