Arteriovenous haemangioma in liver disease. Treatment with carbon dioxide laser vaporization in five cases.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous haemangioma (AVH) is considered a rare, benign, acquired, cutaneous tumour of vascular origin. Recently, a variant associated with chronic hepatic disease has been described. The usual treatment is surgical resection but no other treatments have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results obtained in the treatment of AVH with carbon dioxide laser vaporization. METHODS: Every patient with AVH related to chronic hepatic disease treated in the laser unit was reviewed. Five patients were treated with carbon dioxide laser vaporization. The first pass of treatment was performed in defocused mode at 2 W/cm(2). After this, several passes were performed in order to clear the entire lesion. One session of treatment was necessary for three patients, and the other two patients needed two sessions. RESULTS: The tumoral mass as well as the pulse disappeared in all lesions; total clearance was obtained in four of the five cases. In the postoperative time, no bleeding or haemorrhage were observed. No significant secondary effects of treatment were present. The cosmetic outcome was excellent in all cases. CONCLUSION: Carbon dioxide laser vaporization may be an alternative treatment for cases of AVH in chronic hepatic disease the procedure is easy and with good cosmetic outcome.