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Pulsed-dye Laser (pulsed-dye + laser)
Terms modified by Pulsed-dye Laser Selected AbstractsOutcomes of Childhood Hemangiomas Treated with the Pulsed-Dye Laser with Dynamic Cooling: A Retrospective Chart AnalysisDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2009CARINA RIZZO MD BACKGROUND Laser treatment of childhood hemangiomas remains controversial. Previous studies have used outdated technology, resulting in a potential overrepresentation of adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of hemangiomas treated with the most current laser technology. METHODS A retrospective chart analysis of 90 patients with a median age of 3.0 months and a total of 105 hemangiomas were enrolled over a 2.5-year period. All were treated with the 595-nm long-pulse pulsed-dye laser (LP-PDL) with dynamic epidermal cooling at 2- to 8-week intervals depending on the stage of growth. Exclusion criteria were previous laser, surgical, or corticosteroid treatment. Three reviewers assessed outcomes. RESULTS Near-complete or complete clearance in color were achieved for 85 (81%) and in thickness for 67 (64%) hemangiomas. There was no scarring or atrophy. Ulceration occurred in one case and resolved during treatment. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation occurred in 4% and 14% of hemangiomas, respectively. CONCLUSION Early treatment of childhood hemangiomas with the 595-nm LP-PDL with dynamic cooling may reduce the proliferative phase and result in excellent rates of clearing and few adverse events. [source] Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a 585 nm Pulsed-Dye Laser for the Nonablative Treatment of Facial RhytidesDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2005T. S. Jeffrey Hsu MD Objective The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a 585 nm flashlamp pulsed-dye laser for the nonablative treatment of facial rhytides. Methods A multicenter prospective randomized controlled study on 58 volunteers was performed. A split-face approach was adopted, with one periorbital region acting as a control and the other receiving either one or two treatments. Patients were photographed and imaged three-dimensionally before and after treatment. Histologic sections were analyzed. Results Three-dimensional topographic evaluation showed improvements of 9.8% (p= .0022) and 15% (p= .0029) in surface roughness for single and double treatments, respectively. Histology revealed an increase in type I collagen messenger ribonucleic acid expression, type III procollagen, chondroitin sulfate, and grenz zone thickness. Two treatments resulted in greater improvement than one treatment. Conclusion Clinical improvement was achieved following a single treatment. Further improvement was observed following a second treatment. The subjective evaluation of clinical improvement was consistent with both histologic and topographic quantitative measurements. SUZANNE KILMER, MD, AND JAY BURNS, MD, RECEIVED THE USE OF THE LASER FOR RESEARCH AND A DISCOUNTED PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THEY BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIVING HONORARIA FOR LECTURING FROM THE MANUFACTURER. BRIAN ZELICKSON, MD, RECEIVED RESEARCH GRANTS FROM ICN. [source] Treatment of Facial Telangiectasia With Variable-Pulse High-Fluence Pulsed-Dye Laser: Comparison of Efficacy with Fluences Immediately Above and Below the Purpura ThresholdDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2003Murad Alam MD Background. Pulsed-dye laser treatment has been shown to be highly effective for the treatment of facial telangiectasia. Posttreatment purpura after such treatment has limited patient acceptance of the procedure. Objective. To determine whether purpura-free treatment with recently introduced variable-pulsed pulsed-dye lasers can effectively reduce facial telangiectasia. Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded trial. Eleven patients received variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser treatment with and without induction of purpura. Telangiectasia were graded on a "telangiectasia density scale," on which a 1 signified extremely fine, sparsely distributed telangiectasia, and 5 referred to thick, ropelike telangiectasia covering the affected area. For each subject, two areas on either side of the facial midline with equivalent telangiectasia density ratings were randomized to the purpura and purpura-free treatment groups, respectively. All treatments used a 7-mm spot size and a 10-ms pulse duration. The fluence associated with the purpura threshold for each patient was determined in test areas. Purpura-free treatment entailed a fluence 1.0 J/cm2 less than the purpura threshold, and purpura-level treatment entailed a fluence 0.5 J/cm2 greater than the threshold. Results. Six weeks after a single purpura-free treatment, mean telangiectasia ratings were reduced from 2.7 to 2.4. Purpura-level treatments resulted in a decrease to 1.4 from the same baseline. Thicker, denser telangiectasia appeared to benefit more from purpura-level treatment (a mean telangiectasia density scale reduction of 1.7) than finer, sparser telangiectasia (a mean reduction of 0.8). In 81% of cases, both investigators and patients rated the side treated with purpura as undergoing a greater reduction in telangiectasia density. Conclusion. Although facial telangiectasia do improve after a single purpura-free treatment with the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser, they improve more after purpura is induced. Purpura-free and purpura-level treatments may be close to equivalent for treating fine telangiectasia, but purpura-level treatments have a distinct advantage for treating thicker telangiectasia. Significantly, the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser offers patients the option of effective treatment of some telangiectasia without bruising. [source] Efficacy of the Flashlamp-Pumped Pulsed-Dye Laser in Nonsurgical Delay of Skin FlapsDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2003Ali Riza Erçöçen MD Objective. The purpose of this article was to determine the effectiveness of laser delay by use of the flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser operating at a wavelength of 585 nm; to elucidate the comparable or dissimilar macroscopic, microscopic, and hemodynamic changes between laser and surgical delay methods; and to clarify the possible mechanisms underlying the delay effect of laser. Methods. A standardized caudally based random dorsal rat flap model was used in this study: Acute random skin flaps served as control subjects (group 1). Surgical delay was employed by incision of lateral longitudinal borders both without (group 2) and with (group 3) undermining, and laser delay methods were performed by laser irradiation of both lateral longitudinal borders (group 4) and the entire surface (group 5) of the proposed flap. Evaluation was done by histologic examination, India ink injection, laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and measurement of flap survival. Results. Histologically, dilation and hypertrophy of subpapillary and subdermal vessels were evident in groups 2, 3, and 4; on the other hand, degranulation of mast cells in the vicinity of occluded vessels at the 1st hour of laser delay and a striking mast cell proliferation and degranulation in association with newly formed vessels (angiogenesis) at the 14th day of laser delay were prominent in group 5. India ink injections revealed longitudinally arranged large-caliber vessels and cross-filling between the vessels of adjacent territories in groups, 2, 3, and 4, but only small-caliber vessels in group 5. Compared with the acute flaps, both surgical and laser delay significantly increased the mean flap perfusion to the maximal levels after a 14-day delay period, and all delay procedures improved flap survival; the most significant increase in surviving area was observed in group 3, whereas the less significant increase in surviving area was in group 5. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that laser delay is as effective as surgical delay and that laser delay by lasering lateral borders leads to dilation and longitudinal rearrangement of the existing vessels rather than angiogenesis, whereas laser delay by lasering the entire surface results in delay effect by inducing angiogenesis due to activation and degranulation of the mast cells. [source] Treatment of Striae Rubra and Striae Alba With the 585-nm Pulsed-Dye LaserDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 4 2003Gloria P. Jimeénez MD BACKGROUND The treatment of striae distensae has recently been reported with various lasers such as the 585-nm pulsed dye laser. At lower fluences (2.0 to 4.0 J/cm2), this laser has been purported to increase the amount of collagen in the extracellular matrix. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the 585-nm pulsed dye laser is effective in both striae rubra and striae alba after two treatments and, in addition, to determine whether there is a net effect on collagen density in treated samples. METHODS Twenty patients (skin types II to VI) with either striae rubra (9) or striae alba (11) were treated at baseline and at week 6. The total length of the study was 12 weeks. Untreated striae on the same patient were used as control subjects. Striae clinical parameters such as color and area were measured before the first and after the last treatment by an independent examiner using a visual analog scale. A hydroxyproline assay was used to measure collagen changes in two of the striae quantitatively. RESULTS The 585 nm had a moderate beneficial effect in reducing the degree of erythema in striae rubra. There was no apparent clinical change on striae alba. Total collagen per gram of dry weight of sampled tissue increased in striae treated with pulsed dye laser versus control subjects. CONCLUSION We recommend the use of the 585-nm pulsed dye laser for striae rubra in patients skin types II to IV. Extreme caution or avoidance should be observed in pulsed dye laser treatments for patients with phototypes V to VI even with the use of low fluences. Tissue collagen changes measured may be an early change, which precedes significant clinical improvement. [source] Pulsed-Dye Laser and Retinoic Acid Delay Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Murine Model,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2001Rahul K. Shah MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis This study examined the role of the pulsed-dye laser (PDL) at 585 nm coupled with retinoic acid at therapeutic (5.0 mg/kg) and nontherapeutic (0.5 mg/kg) doses to delay the progression of cancer with a two-hit approach. The existing vasculature is selectively targeted by the laser, whereas retinoic acid inhibits future angiogenesis. Study Design Randomized, prospective study in a murine model. Methods Twenty-five athymic nude mice were inoculated with oral squamous cell cancers on six flank sites and randomly divided into five groups: 1) control subjects, 2) treatment with 0.5 mg/kg retinoic acid (RA 0.5), 3) treatment with 5.0 mg/kg retinoic acid (RA 5.0), 4) treatment with RA 0.5 + PDL, and 5) treatment with RA 5.0 + PDL. The PDL groups received irradiation after inoculation. The retinoic acid was administered daily. The tumors were counted and measured for 14 days. Results The control group developed visible tumors in 50% of the inoculation sites at 3 days compared with 3 days (RA 0.5) and 4 days (RA 5.0) for the retinoic acid groups and 9 days (RA 0.5 + PDL) and 10 days (RA 5.0 + PDL) for the laser treatment groups. There was no tumor growth until day 7 in the RA 5.0 + PDL group. The tumor volume was statistically different between the treatment groups. Conclusion This study demonstrated the superiority of a single treatment with the PDL coupled with retinoic acid to delay the progression of cancer when compared with treatment with retinoic acid alone, thus introducing a novel strategy in cancer control. [source] Multiwavelength Laser Treatment of Venous LakesDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2009MÓNICA RONCERO MD BACKGROUND Venous lakes (VLs) are common benign ectasias in the upper dermis, usually observed in older people. Different treatment strategies have been described as useful, such as cryosurgery, excision, and various types of laser. OBJECTIVE We report our experiences using a multiwavelength laser, which has not been previously described. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-nine VLs in 30 patients were treated. Treatment with 595-nm pulsed-dye laser was conducted at 20 ms and 10 J/cm2, followed by 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser at 20 ms and 70 J/cm2. RESULTS Complete resolution was observed in 38 lesions (95%). No complications after treatment were noted. One case developed a small scar. CONCLUSIONS Multiwavelentgh laser (595 nm; 1,064 nm) provides a safe, fast, and effective option in the treatment of VLs. [source] Outcomes of Childhood Hemangiomas Treated with the Pulsed-Dye Laser with Dynamic Cooling: A Retrospective Chart AnalysisDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2009CARINA RIZZO MD BACKGROUND Laser treatment of childhood hemangiomas remains controversial. Previous studies have used outdated technology, resulting in a potential overrepresentation of adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of hemangiomas treated with the most current laser technology. METHODS A retrospective chart analysis of 90 patients with a median age of 3.0 months and a total of 105 hemangiomas were enrolled over a 2.5-year period. All were treated with the 595-nm long-pulse pulsed-dye laser (LP-PDL) with dynamic epidermal cooling at 2- to 8-week intervals depending on the stage of growth. Exclusion criteria were previous laser, surgical, or corticosteroid treatment. Three reviewers assessed outcomes. RESULTS Near-complete or complete clearance in color were achieved for 85 (81%) and in thickness for 67 (64%) hemangiomas. There was no scarring or atrophy. Ulceration occurred in one case and resolved during treatment. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation occurred in 4% and 14% of hemangiomas, respectively. CONCLUSION Early treatment of childhood hemangiomas with the 595-nm LP-PDL with dynamic cooling may reduce the proliferative phase and result in excellent rates of clearing and few adverse events. [source] Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a 585 nm Pulsed-Dye Laser for the Nonablative Treatment of Facial RhytidesDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2005T. S. Jeffrey Hsu MD Objective The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a 585 nm flashlamp pulsed-dye laser for the nonablative treatment of facial rhytides. Methods A multicenter prospective randomized controlled study on 58 volunteers was performed. A split-face approach was adopted, with one periorbital region acting as a control and the other receiving either one or two treatments. Patients were photographed and imaged three-dimensionally before and after treatment. Histologic sections were analyzed. Results Three-dimensional topographic evaluation showed improvements of 9.8% (p= .0022) and 15% (p= .0029) in surface roughness for single and double treatments, respectively. Histology revealed an increase in type I collagen messenger ribonucleic acid expression, type III procollagen, chondroitin sulfate, and grenz zone thickness. Two treatments resulted in greater improvement than one treatment. Conclusion Clinical improvement was achieved following a single treatment. Further improvement was observed following a second treatment. The subjective evaluation of clinical improvement was consistent with both histologic and topographic quantitative measurements. SUZANNE KILMER, MD, AND JAY BURNS, MD, RECEIVED THE USE OF THE LASER FOR RESEARCH AND A DISCOUNTED PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THEY BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIVING HONORARIA FOR LECTURING FROM THE MANUFACTURER. BRIAN ZELICKSON, MD, RECEIVED RESEARCH GRANTS FROM ICN. [source] Successful Treatment of a Cosmetic Tattoo Using a Combination of LasersDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 1 2004Karen Rebecca Suchin MD Background. Cosmetic tattoos are becoming more popular and are often composed of several colors. Tattoo pigments containing ferric oxide and titanium dioxide can change to a blue-black color after exposure to Q-switched lasers that can be permanent. Objective. Using a patient who presented with rouge tattoos on the cheeks as an example, we describe a useful approach to laser treatment of cosmetic tattoos. Methods. Test areas were done with the Q-switched Nd:YAG at both 532 and 1064 nm and with the pulsed-dye laser at 595 nm. Results. Although an immediate blue-black color change occurred after treatment with the Nd:YAG at 532 and 1064 nm, sequential treatments at 1064 nm produced a near complete clearance of the tattoos. The pulsed-dye laser was used to remove subtle pink tones. Conclusion. Performing small test areas before complete treatment and using several laser wavelengths throughout the course of therapy are essential to the successful treatment of cosmetic tattoos. [source] Treatment of Facial Telangiectasia With Variable-Pulse High-Fluence Pulsed-Dye Laser: Comparison of Efficacy with Fluences Immediately Above and Below the Purpura ThresholdDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2003Murad Alam MD Background. Pulsed-dye laser treatment has been shown to be highly effective for the treatment of facial telangiectasia. Posttreatment purpura after such treatment has limited patient acceptance of the procedure. Objective. To determine whether purpura-free treatment with recently introduced variable-pulsed pulsed-dye lasers can effectively reduce facial telangiectasia. Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded trial. Eleven patients received variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser treatment with and without induction of purpura. Telangiectasia were graded on a "telangiectasia density scale," on which a 1 signified extremely fine, sparsely distributed telangiectasia, and 5 referred to thick, ropelike telangiectasia covering the affected area. For each subject, two areas on either side of the facial midline with equivalent telangiectasia density ratings were randomized to the purpura and purpura-free treatment groups, respectively. All treatments used a 7-mm spot size and a 10-ms pulse duration. The fluence associated with the purpura threshold for each patient was determined in test areas. Purpura-free treatment entailed a fluence 1.0 J/cm2 less than the purpura threshold, and purpura-level treatment entailed a fluence 0.5 J/cm2 greater than the threshold. Results. Six weeks after a single purpura-free treatment, mean telangiectasia ratings were reduced from 2.7 to 2.4. Purpura-level treatments resulted in a decrease to 1.4 from the same baseline. Thicker, denser telangiectasia appeared to benefit more from purpura-level treatment (a mean telangiectasia density scale reduction of 1.7) than finer, sparser telangiectasia (a mean reduction of 0.8). In 81% of cases, both investigators and patients rated the side treated with purpura as undergoing a greater reduction in telangiectasia density. Conclusion. Although facial telangiectasia do improve after a single purpura-free treatment with the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser, they improve more after purpura is induced. Purpura-free and purpura-level treatments may be close to equivalent for treating fine telangiectasia, but purpura-level treatments have a distinct advantage for treating thicker telangiectasia. Significantly, the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser offers patients the option of effective treatment of some telangiectasia without bruising. [source] Prospective study of port wine stain treatment with dye laser: Comparison of two wavelengths (585 nm vs.LASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 2 2004595 nm), two pulse durations (0.5 milliseconds vs. Abstract Background and Objectives The conventional pulsed-dye laser (wavelength 585 nm, pulse duration 0.5 milliseconds) is seen as the standard treatment for port wine stains (PWS). Using the pulsed-dye laser at wavelengths of 590, 595, and 600 nm and at varying pulse durations of 1.5,40 milliseconds is one of the newest developments in the field, the therapeutic value of which has been examined in only a few studies. Treatment of PWS with short- and long-pulse dye lasers. Comparison of two wavelengths (585 nm vs. 595 nm) and two pulse durations (0.5 milliseconds vs. 20 milliseconds). Study Design/Materials and Methods Fifteen patients with untreated PWS were included in a randomized prospective study with three different laser settings. Patients underwent one treatment session. The following treatment parameters were chosen at a uniform spot size of 7 mm: (1) 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds/5.5 J/cm2, (2) 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds/5.5 J/cm2, and (3) 595 nm/20 milliseconds/13 J/cm2. The clearance as well as side effects was evaluated. All treatments were performed with cold air-cooling. Follow-up took place immediately, 2 days and 4 weeks after the treatment. The PWS was assigned a clearance score (CS) from 1 to 4 (1,=,poor to 4,=,excellent). Results Descriptively, 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds generated the best average CS of 2.7, followed by 595 nm/20 milliseconds (2.5) and 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds (1.6)); statistically, there is no difference between the CS of 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds and 595 nm/20 milliseconds. The best lightening rates overall were achieved in purple PWS (CS,=,3.5) versus red (CS,=,2.5) and pink (CS,=,2.0). Purple PWS responded best to 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds; red and pink PWS yielded similar results with 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds and 595 nm/20 milliseconds. The setting, 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds was clearly not as effective as the other laser settings. Purpura, pain, and crusting were most commonly reported after treatments with 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds (93%/93%/33%), closely followed by treatments at 595 nm/20 milliseconds (86%/93%/20%). The settings 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds yielded the lowest rate of adverse effects (67%/60%/0%). Hypopigmentation only occurred in one case (585 nm/0.5 milliseconds), and there were no reports of hyperpigmentation or scarring. Conclusions With respect to treating PWS, the conventional pulsed-dye laser set to 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds yields a significantly greater clearance rate than it does at a setting of 595 nm (with the same pulse duration, fluence, and spot size), although the former also entails the highest spectrum of adverse effects. In this study, purple PWS treated at these parameters showed the best results. In dealing with pink PWS, the results were similar to those of the conventional pulsed-dye laser when the pulse duration was increased to 20 milliseconds and fluence was increased. As a rule, the clearance rate corresponded to the extent of the postoperative purpura. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:168,173, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Introduction of the flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser treatment of facial port-wine stains in childhood: A case of health care technology assessmentLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 2 2001C.A.J.M. De Borgie MSc Abstract Background and Objective Lasers have been used in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS) for more than 30 years. With the introduction of the flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser (FPDL) it was assumed that infants could be treated safely, effectively, and probably more efficiently. Nowadays, FPDL treatment is an established form of treatment of PWS in childhood. Study Design/Materials and Methods On the basis of the iterative Health Care Technology Assessment (HCTA) loop, we examined whether sufficient evidence from evaluations has been present to support the introduction of FPDL treatment for facial PWS at an early age. Such an assessment requires an interdisciplinary approach focusing on aspects of safety, efficacy, effectiveness, quality of life, costs, and the ethical issues of treatment. Results Assessment of the FPDL in PWS treatment of children did not follow the model of medical innovation and evaluation. Most assessments have been focused on laser applications that were already in clinical use. Efficacy and effectiveness of laser treatment have been the major concern in most assessments. Only a few studies have looked at costs and ethical aspects of treating children. Conclusions The introduction and diffusion of the use of the FPDL in the treatment of PWS in childhood were uncontrolled, and the field was not prepared to use this technique properly. We believe that this nonadherence to the iterative HCTA model reflects the gradual way by which innovations find their way into clinical practice. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:182,189, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Pulsed-Dye Laser and Retinoic Acid Delay Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Murine Model,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2001Rahul K. Shah MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis This study examined the role of the pulsed-dye laser (PDL) at 585 nm coupled with retinoic acid at therapeutic (5.0 mg/kg) and nontherapeutic (0.5 mg/kg) doses to delay the progression of cancer with a two-hit approach. The existing vasculature is selectively targeted by the laser, whereas retinoic acid inhibits future angiogenesis. Study Design Randomized, prospective study in a murine model. Methods Twenty-five athymic nude mice were inoculated with oral squamous cell cancers on six flank sites and randomly divided into five groups: 1) control subjects, 2) treatment with 0.5 mg/kg retinoic acid (RA 0.5), 3) treatment with 5.0 mg/kg retinoic acid (RA 5.0), 4) treatment with RA 0.5 + PDL, and 5) treatment with RA 5.0 + PDL. The PDL groups received irradiation after inoculation. The retinoic acid was administered daily. The tumors were counted and measured for 14 days. Results The control group developed visible tumors in 50% of the inoculation sites at 3 days compared with 3 days (RA 0.5) and 4 days (RA 5.0) for the retinoic acid groups and 9 days (RA 0.5 + PDL) and 10 days (RA 5.0 + PDL) for the laser treatment groups. There was no tumor growth until day 7 in the RA 5.0 + PDL group. The tumor volume was statistically different between the treatment groups. Conclusion This study demonstrated the superiority of a single treatment with the PDL coupled with retinoic acid to delay the progression of cancer when compared with treatment with retinoic acid alone, thus introducing a novel strategy in cancer control. [source] Pyogenic granuloma complicating pulsed-dye laser therapy for cherry angiomaAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Sheryn Cheah ABSTRACT A 37 year-old-woman presented for cosmetic removal of a 7-mm (diameter) cherry angioma on her right anterior thigh. Various treatment options were discussed and removal of the lesion using pulsed-dye laser was carried out. The patient returned 5 weeks later complaining of bleeding from the treatment site, which on examination showed a 23 × 23-mm friable nodular lesion with the typical appearance of a pyogenic granuloma. This lesion was removed by shave excision, curettage and electrodessication. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma. This is a rare occurrence post pulsed-dye laser therapy that physicians may choose to discuss with patients prior to performing this procedure. [source] A case of focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz) syndrome with exophytic granulation tissue treated by curettage and photodynamic therapyCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006R. Mallipeddi Summary Focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by cutaneous, ectodermal and mesodermal defects. We present a case in which painful, exophytic granulation tissue has been the main symptom over the past 15 years. After unsatisfactory results with a number of treatment modalities including topical steroids, silver-nitrate applications, cryotherapy, curettage, excision and pulsed-dye laser, we achieved significant benefit with curettage in combination with photodynamic therapy. Although impaired wound healing has been described in focal dermal hypoplasia, this is, to our knowledge, the first time that pyogenic granuloma-like lesions have been reported. [source] Treatment of Facial Telangiectasia With Variable-Pulse High-Fluence Pulsed-Dye Laser: Comparison of Efficacy with Fluences Immediately Above and Below the Purpura ThresholdDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2003Murad Alam MD Background. Pulsed-dye laser treatment has been shown to be highly effective for the treatment of facial telangiectasia. Posttreatment purpura after such treatment has limited patient acceptance of the procedure. Objective. To determine whether purpura-free treatment with recently introduced variable-pulsed pulsed-dye lasers can effectively reduce facial telangiectasia. Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded trial. Eleven patients received variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser treatment with and without induction of purpura. Telangiectasia were graded on a "telangiectasia density scale," on which a 1 signified extremely fine, sparsely distributed telangiectasia, and 5 referred to thick, ropelike telangiectasia covering the affected area. For each subject, two areas on either side of the facial midline with equivalent telangiectasia density ratings were randomized to the purpura and purpura-free treatment groups, respectively. All treatments used a 7-mm spot size and a 10-ms pulse duration. The fluence associated with the purpura threshold for each patient was determined in test areas. Purpura-free treatment entailed a fluence 1.0 J/cm2 less than the purpura threshold, and purpura-level treatment entailed a fluence 0.5 J/cm2 greater than the threshold. Results. Six weeks after a single purpura-free treatment, mean telangiectasia ratings were reduced from 2.7 to 2.4. Purpura-level treatments resulted in a decrease to 1.4 from the same baseline. Thicker, denser telangiectasia appeared to benefit more from purpura-level treatment (a mean telangiectasia density scale reduction of 1.7) than finer, sparser telangiectasia (a mean reduction of 0.8). In 81% of cases, both investigators and patients rated the side treated with purpura as undergoing a greater reduction in telangiectasia density. Conclusion. Although facial telangiectasia do improve after a single purpura-free treatment with the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser, they improve more after purpura is induced. Purpura-free and purpura-level treatments may be close to equivalent for treating fine telangiectasia, but purpura-level treatments have a distinct advantage for treating thicker telangiectasia. Significantly, the variable-pulse pulsed-dye laser offers patients the option of effective treatment of some telangiectasia without bruising. [source] |