Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia treated with vascular laser.

BACKGROUND: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare, benign disorder characterized by reddish-brown nodules and plaques in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissues, typically occurring on the neck and head. Surgical excision, corticosteroids, radiotherapy, and other therapies have been used, however, recurrences are common. Treatment with vascular lasers such as pulsed dye laser (PDL) or Nd:YAG seems to be a promising therapeutic option. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of PDL and combined sequential PDL-Nd:YAG laser in patients with ALHE. METHODS: Three patients with ALHE were treated with PDL at 595-nm wavelength or with a combined sequential application of 595-nm PDL and 1,064-nm Nd:YAG wavelengths. Topical anesthetic was applied before laser treatment. RESULTS: Complete resolution of the lesions was achieved in two patients with ALHE; a partial response was seen in one patient. No significant side-effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that PDL should be a first-line therapy for AHLE. Sequential application of PDL and Nd:YAG laser seems to show promising results, so it could be an interesting new treatment option.