Noninvasive In Vivo Assessment of Vessel Characteristics in Capillary Vascular Malformations Exposed to Five Pulsed Dye Laser Treatments

Abstract

The authors found that vessels with a diameter greater than 50 mum were adequately treated, whereas those smaller than 50 microm appeared resistant to laser treatment. These data would suggest that pulse durations longer than 0.45 msec are not required to treat large ectatic capillary vascular malformation vessels. The authors suggest that the failure to treat very-small-diameter vessels is attributable to thermal dissipation from the target vessels, whose thermal relaxation time is much shorter than the pulse duration of the laser used.

A direct comparison of pulsed dye, alexandrite, KTP and Nd:YAG lasers and IPL in patients with previously treated capillary malformations

“…CM colour changes were assessed using Munsell colour charts (GretagMacbeth, New Windsor, NY) [16,[18][19][20]. Colour measurements using the colour charts were carried out by a single observer in standardised lighting conditions and following 20 minutes acclimatisation to room temperature, to exclude potential sources of error and allow detection of genuine changes in CM colour following treatment.…”

Description and Analysis of Treatments for Port-wine Stain Birthmarks

“…Multiple pulses do not increase the depth of treatment or improve PWS blanching response but subject the epidermis to a higher risk of thermal injury. Last, unlike PDL-induced photocoagulation, which spares microvessels (diameter, 10-50 µm), 45 PDT can destroy all vessels containing photosensitizer. This can offer a treatment advantage but also requires careful design of a PDT protocol, because complete destruction of the vascular network will result in necrosis, ulceration, and subsequent scarring.…”

Laser surgery of port wine stains using local vacuum pressure: Changes in skin morphology and optical properties (Part I)

“…It is hypothesized herein that the remaining vessels responsible for the red-pink coloration are difficult to destroy due to their small diameters (10-30 mm) [6][7][8] because smaller vessels have a much lower blood volumeto-vessel wall (perivascular) surface area than larger vessels [9]. This results in insufficient thermal confinement within the vessel and further decreases treatment efficiency.…”