Copper vapour laser treatment of port-wine stains in brown skin

• Published in: Australasian journal of dermatology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: Chung, Jin Ho, Koh, Woo Seok, Lee, Dong Youn, Lee, Young Suk, Eun, Hee Chul, Youn, Jai Il
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Copper; Dermatology; Female; Humans; Korean; Laser Therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; naevus flammeus; Port-Wine Stain - ethnology; Port-Wine Stain - pathology; Port-Wine Stain - therapy; Treatment Outcome; Tropical medicine; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Asia; Korea; Human; Vapor; Skin disease; Treatment; Color; Laser; Cardiovascular disease; Copper; Congenital disease; Angioma simplex; Pigmentation; Result
• ISSN: 0004-8380; 1440-0960
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1997.tb01092.x

SUMMARY Forty‐seven Korean patients with port‐wine stains were treated with a copper vapour laser and clinical responses were assessed at three months after the last treatment by comparing photographs taken before each treatment The immediate histologic changes within 15min after laser treatment were also observed by routine H & E and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride staining. When we treated port‐wine stains with minimal whitening doses of 6‐8 J/cm2, no or slight colour changes were obtained. Thus, all port‐wine stain lesions in this study were treated with non‐specific energy densities ranging from 10‐20 J/cm2. Good to excellent results were obtained in 18 (38.2%) of 47 Korean patients with port‐wine stains. Repeated treatment can continue to reduce colour. Darker lesions (purple or red) are more likely to result in a marked colour change. At above threshold dose, there was wedge‐shaped diffuse coagulation necrosis and loss of viability of the epidermis and underlying dermis. Even though copper vapour laser treatment of port‐wine stains in brown skin is not as selective as in white skin because of epidermal melanin, our clinical data demonstrate the usefulness of the copper vapour laser for the treatment of port‐wine stains in brown skin.