Laser for vascular anomalies: successful outcomes in children

Abstract

Vascular anomalies can cause both emotional and physical distress to patients, particularly children. The paediatric laser service at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) treats a range of dermatological conditions including a variety of vascular anomalies, excess hair growth and disfiguring scars. The laser team at GOSH has 25 years of experience in treating a wide variety of paediatric dermatological conditions using various laser therapies. With over 600 new referrals for laser therapy and over 1000 laser procedures each year the GOSH laser team has vast amounts of experience with both common and rare conditions. Excellent clinical outcomes continue to be delivered, and new treatment therapies are constantly being developed to treat more recalcitrant lesions. The adverse effect rates experienced by the GOSH laser patients have been decreasing over the past two decades, reaching the low rate of 0.8% per treated patients per year. This remarkable achievement has been continuously improved by integrating specific and standardized laser protocols for each patient treated, to ensure efficacious and safe laser treatment delivery. Treating vascular anomalies with laser therapy creates significant positive results among the paediatric population, thus laser therapy at GOSH makes a significant impact upon children’s lives with both rare and common vascular anomalies.

Effects of methylene blue photodynamic therapy on oral carcinoma and leukoplakia cells

“…In current clinical practice, facial pediatric vascular anomalies can be treated in office with pulse dye light therapy. This non‐invasive treatment has excellent clinical outcomes and low rates of adverse effects 28,29 . Light treatment is easy to use on facial areas that are difficult to treat surgically such as lips, eyelids, and ears, and dosing can be adjusted for better cosmetic outcomes, such as use of lower doses in the periorbital area 30 .…”

“…This non‐invasive treatment has excellent clinical outcomes and low rates of adverse effects. 28 , 29 Light treatment is easy to use on facial areas that are difficult to treat surgically such as lips, eyelids, and ears, and dosing can be adjusted for better cosmetic outcomes, such as use of lower doses in the periorbital area. 30 Similarly, MB PDT could be employed in these areas for the treatment of head and neck carcinoma.…”

"Double-Skin: A New Approach in Laser Surgery Using the Regenerative Solution in Children Diagnosed with Vascular Anomaly: A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial"

“…The longer pulse durations and a wavelength, which is also absorbed by melanin, has a higher incidence of side effects due to epidermal injury, likely related to excessive epidermal temperatures. However, the postoperative care commonly consists only of application of a healing ointment, and avoidance of sun exposure, to reduce the risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation [1][2][3][4].…”