Carbon dioxide laser treatment for the tuberous component of port-wine stains

Background and Objectives The flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser is the treatment of choice for port-wine stains (PWS) but the tuberous component of PWS responds poorly to this treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy of vaporizing this component with a continuous carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.Materials and Methods The PWS tuberous components of 30 patients unresponsive to dye laser were treated with a continuous CO2 laser. In 15 patients no anaesthesia was used.Results All the lesions disappeared. A texture change was detected in 37% of the patients and one patient developed hypertrophic scarring. Patient satisfaction was excellent in all cases. Pain was noted in only four of those patients who underwent treatment without anaesthesia.CONCLUSION CO2 laser vaporization of the tuberous lesions of PWS is an excellent option complementary to treatment with the pulsed-dye laser.