Treatment of hemangioma and vascular malformation by Nd-YAG laser.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To review the results of Nd-YAG laser therapy in patients with hemangioma and vascular malformation in the aspects of size, colour, complications and parent satisfaction. Methods: Retrospective reviews of 9 patients who had received Nd-YAG laser therapy from 23.8.2006-15.11.2006 were carried out. Patients were treated with CW-Nd YAG laser by a transcutaneous with ice technique, a contact technique, or an interstitial technique depending on the lesions. Data were collected by patient and parent interview or sonography measurement for voluminous lesion. Results: There were 9 patients. In the patients with vascular malformation (n=6), five cases showed increased faintness of the lesions‘ colour. There were two voluminous venous malformations; both showed marked regression (>50%) of lesions after laser treatment. In patients with voluminous hemangioma (n=2), one showed moderate (50%) regression within two months of laser treatment. The other showed no regression within one month; however, no progression of lesion was detected. There was one patient with eruptive angioma. Complete laser coagulation was done by the laser contact technique without recurrent bleeding. There was scar development after laser treatment in two venous malformation patients treated by the transcutaneous laser therapy. There was no scar complication in treated hemangioma patients. Hypopigmentation was found in both venous malformation patients treated by the laser contact technique. Conclusion: Nd-YAG laser therapy is a treatment alternative in hemangioma and vascular malformation. Hemangioma regressed or stopped growth after laser treatment. All venous malformations showed improvement of colour (fainter). However, a scar complication from laser therapy could be encountered, especially if the skin cooling preparation technique was not done properly. Voluminous reduction can be expected in 100% of cases. Laser treatment by contact technique is an effective method for destruction of protruding venous malformations and eruptive angioma.