The treatment of early cutaneous capillary haemangiomata (strawberry naevi) with the tunable dye laser

• Published in: British journal of plastic surgery Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 302 - 307
• Main Authors: Haywood, Richard Matthew, Monk, Barry, Mahaffey, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: age; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; cutaneous capillary haemangioma; Dermatology; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Facial Neoplasms - surgery; Female; Hemangioma, Capillary - surgery; Hereditary diseases of the skin. Congenital diseases of the skin. Haemangioma of the skin, of mucosae and of soft tissue; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Laser Therapy - methods; Laser Therapy - standards; Male; Medical sciences; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Treatment Outcome; tunable dye laser; cutaneous capillary haemangioma; tunable dye laser; age; Human; Skin disease; Cardiovascular disease; Infant; Result; Vascular disease; Dye laser; Plasty; Angioma; Treatment; Surgery; Blood capillary; Skin; Tunable laser; Technique
• ISSN: 0007-1226; 1465-3087
• DOI: 10.1054/bjps.2000.3340

We have treated 39 early cutaneous capillary haemangiomata, in 24 infants, with the tunable dye laser at a wavelength of 585 nm (SPTL 1b, Candela Corporation, Wayland, MA, USA). The average age at first treatment was 13 weeks. The first signs of involution were seen at 19 weeks of age. Complete resolution of the lesions was seen in 61.5% of haemangoomata at an average age of 39 weeks. Two haemangiomata did not respond to laser treatment and were treated successfully with intralesional steroid injection. There were no complications of laser treatment. The natural history of the treated haemangiomata was significantly shorter than historical evidence suggests for untreated lesions. Haemangiomata may be treated safely and effectively with the tunable dye laser in the early weeks of life leading to accelerated involution and resolution.