© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
LEADING ARTICLE
Laser treatment
Recent developments in lasers and the treatment of birthmarks
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Prof. M Waner, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 800 Marshall Street, Mail slot 668, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA;
wanermilton@uams.edu
Despite rapid advances during the past two decades there are still unanswered questions
Keywords: recent developments; laser; birthmark
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
There have been numerous advances during the past two decades in the treatment of birthmarks, concerning both efficacy and safety. Although initial results of laser treatment for portwine stains are encouraging, there remain unanswered questions about the long term benefits. The response of other birthmarks to laser therapy is variable, and much work still remains to be done.
Laser treatment has become the standard of care for the management of portwine stains. The past two decades have witnessed the progression of these devices from crude, non-selective forms of treatment to highly sophisticated lasers capable of selective photothermolysis. In spite of this, the results of treatment leave much to be desired. Although the vast majority of portwine stains lighten significantly with treatment, only 15–20% clear completely.1 Moreover, a recent disturbing report revealed what many of us had suspected for some time: portwine stains can recur after treatment.1 The implications
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