Laser photocoagulation of vascular malformations of the tongue

Abstract

Vascular malformations of the tongue (hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, AV fistulae, etc.) compromise a significant portion of head and neck angiodysplastic lesions. Complications requiring treatment include bleeding, pain, and difficulties related to increased tongue volume. Treatment modalities have included embolization, excision, cryotherapy, sclerosis, radiation, and chemotherapy. The more aggressive therapies often result in major functional disability to loss of lingual tissue. A series of nine patients has been treated for one or more of the complications of lingual vascular malformations with either argon of Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation. The therapeutic objective was provision of symptomatic relief with conservation of functioning lingual tissue. Results have varied from good to excellent with markedly decreased bleeding frequency as well as reduction in lesion size. No serious complications, such as bleeding or invasive infection, have been noted. Laser phototherapy is beneficial in the palliation of selected benign lingual vascular malformations.

Malformaciones venosas orofaciales de bajo flujo: esclerosis endoluminal con láser de diodo

“…Algunos autores obtienen excelentes resultados en la aplicación del láser Nd:YAG y Argón para tratar lesiones vasculares en la lengua con mínimas complicaciones 4 . Sin embargo, otros trabajos presentan tasas de ulceración mucosa de un 14-25% 10,16 .…”

“…Más del 50% de las lesiones vasculares están localizadas en la región de la cabeza y el cuello 3,4 . Dicha localización preferencial cervicofacial y endobucal de algunas de estas anomalías, así como la posibilidad de cirugía de exéresis, en ocasiones mutilante, y la necesaria reconstrucción funcional y estética que de su tratamiento se deriva, hacen del cirujano maxilofacial un actor de singular importancia dentro del tratamiento multidisciplinar 5 .…”

Treatment of vascular lesions in the head and neck using Nd:YAG laser

“…Shrinkage and blanching were observed, and one or two more passes were made. The passes were made in a spotlike fashion, with margins around each treated spot, in order to avoid overlap and tissue necrosis (Dixon et al, 1986).…”

Treatment of large vascular lesions in the orofacial region with the Nd:YAG laser

“…Shrinkage and blanching were observed, and one or two more passes were made. The passes were made in a punctate fashion, with margins around each treated spot, in order to avoid overlap and tissue necrosis (Dixon et al, 1986). (b) Transmucosal PhC with compression: In very bulky vascular lesions, the laser beam penetration depth was insufficient to coagulate the whole thickness of the lesion.…”