Carbon dioxide laser versus erbium:YAG laser in treatment of epidermal verrucous nevus: a comparative randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: A verrucous epidermal nevus (VEN) is a skin disorder that has been treated using different treatment modalities with varying results. Ablative lasers such as carbon dioxide laser (CO2) and erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser have been considered as the gold standard for the treatment of epidermal nevi. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the efficacy, postoperative wound healing and side effects of pulsed CO2 laser and Er:YAG laser for the treatment of verrucous epidermal nevi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with localized VEN were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was administered CO2 laser and group 2 underwent Er:YAG laser treatment. A blinded physician evaluated the photographs and dermoscopic photomicrographs for the efficacy and possible side effects. All patients received one treatment session and were followed up over a 6-month period. RESULTS: Both lasers induced noticeable clinical improvement, but there were no significant differences between two lasers in treatment response, patient satisfaction, duration of erythema and side effects. The average time to re-epithelialization was 13.5 days with CO2 and 7.9 days with Er:YAG laser (p< .0005). No scarring was observed in Er:YAG laser group and no lesional recurrence was detected in CO2 laser group since treatment. CONCLUSION: Apart from re-epithelialization, both lasers showed equivalent outcomes with respect to treatment response, patient satisfaction, side effects and complications.

Comparative study in the management of allergic rhinitis in children using LED phototherapy and laser acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of LED phototherapy and laser acupuncture treatment on allergic rhinitis in children. METHODS: 40 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were divided randomly into two groups. Patient's ages ranged from 7 to 18 years. One group was subjected to LED phototherapy and the other group was managed by laser acupuncture .The patients were followed-up for 1 year. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the severity score symptoms in both groups through and by the end of the follow up period. CONCLUSION: This led to the conclusion that both techniques are equally safe, reliable, non invasive and successful.

Management of ear lobule keloids using 980-nm diode laser.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the 980-nm diode laser in conjunction with corticosteroids in the treatment of ear lobule keloids. Several methods have been described for the treatment of keloid scars, but none of them have been 100% successful. Advances in laser techniques have enabled surgeons to define the most appropriate lasers for use in the treatment of different scar types. The diode laser pulses are delivered interstitially in a single repeated mode in non-overlapping sites using a bare optical fiber, followed by intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection. The number of sessions varies between two to five for the management of more than 75% of keloid size, with a total success rate of 75% and no recurrence in the follow-up of 12 months. The technique used proved to be effective in the treatment of ear lobule keloids.

Utilization of CO(2) laser for temporal fascia graft welding in myringoplasty: an experimental study on guinea pigs.

UNLABELLED: An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the use of a CO(2) laser welding technique in myringoplasty. Albumin solder was used to fix a temporal fascia graft via an overlay transcanal approach. The results of the operative procedure were assessed by microscopic and histopathologic examination over an interval of 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks postoperatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight adult guinea pigs were divided into two groups after permanent perforation of the tympanic membrane was created: laser-assisted myringoplasty group and surgical myringoplasty group. Laser beam power was 0.4 W, pulse duration 0.75 s, pulse interval 0.1 s and spot size 250 microm. Each experimental group was further subdivided into four subgroups of 6 animals each. Histological and microscopic findings of the tympanic membrane for both groups after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were compared. RESULTS: Microscopic examination of the tympanic membrane showed high success rate in the laser-assisted myringoplasty group compared to the control group. Histological evaluation for the tympanic membrane showed complete repair of the tympanic membrane in the laser-assisted myringoplasty group. CONCLUSION: Laser-assisted myringoplasty using CO(2) might be a promising new method in surgical myringoplasty.