Argon and diode laser treatment of benign eyelid lesions

Treatment of benign eyelid lesions with Nd:YVO laser: a prospective study

The purpose of this prospective cohort study, including consecutively selected patients, was to evaluate the outcomes of Nd:YVO laser-assisted photocoagulation for the removal of benign eyelid lesions. An emulsion of lidocaine and prilocaine was used for dermal analgesia and subcutaneous injection of 2% lidocaine was performed as needed. Follow-up included two visits, at day 15 and 45 postoperatively, in order to assess time of wound healing, postoperative complications, need for additional treatment, and patient's satisfaction. A total of 101 lesions of 66 patients were included, with a mean age of 55.4 ± 15.3 years. All patients were Caucasian and 62% were female. Papilloma was the most common lesion identified (61%). No major complications were reported during and after the procedure. Complete epithelization occurred in 82% and 100%, at the 15 and 45-day visit, respectively. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result. Only one patient was proposed for additional therapy during the follow-up period. In conclusion, this study supports Nd:YVO laser-assisted treatment as an effective and safe alternative to conventional surgery for the removal of benign eyelid lesions. The technique is well accepted, easy to perform, and provides excellent cosmetic and functional results.

Super pulse CO2 laser therapy for benign eyelid tumors

BACKGROUND

Benign eyelid tumors occur commonly in daily outpatient services.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment of benign eyelid lesions with a super pulse CO₂ laser as an alternative to surgical excision.

METHODS

This retrospective clinical study included 80 patients with 99 benign eyelid lesions treated with super pulse CO₂ laser photocoagulation. The following areas were involved: the upper eyelid in 38 cases, the lower eyelid in 39 cases, and the angulus oculi in seven cases (the eyelid margin was included in 18 cases). The laser spot size ranged from 120 to 200 μm and the super pulse CO₂ laser power density varied between 0.6 and 21.1 W/mm² . The mean follow-up period was 14.0±7.1 months (range five to 30). Histological diagnoses were obtained in 62 of the 80 patients.

RESULTS

The cosmetic outcomes of all of the patients were satisfactory after treatment, and the wounds formed dry scabs, with no infections. They were epithelialized within 2-4 weeks with normal-appearing epithelium. Temporarily, the treated area had less hyperpigmentation than the surrounding normal skin, showing no obvious scars or notches. No complications were observed, with no relapses during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The super pulse CO₂ laser therapy of the benign eyelid tumors provided satisfactory cosmetic results in this study. It is a convenient, cheap, accessible, and well-tolerated alternative to traditional surgery, especially for diffuse tumors, or those positioned close to the lacrimal papillae.

Dye-enhanced diode laser photothermal ablation of skin

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared diode lasers are promising new light sources. However, their applications for rapid and precise removal of tissue is limited because their radiation is poorly absorbed by most tissue.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine the interaction of diode laser radiation with tissue by topically applying absorbing dye to enhance laser-tissue interaction and to examine the ability of this approach to create superficial and localized thermal effects in skin.

METHODS

Immediate and long-term responses of guinea pig skin to low-power (3 to 5 W X 1 sec) diode laser (805 nm) irradiation in conjunction with indocyanine green as a dye were studied. Tissue response was characterized on the basis of gross and histopathologic analysis of biopsy specimens taken at different times.

RESULTS

The observed depths of thermal damage with dye were greater than those produced by diode laser used alone at higher power settings (10 W X 1 sec).

CONCLUSION

Interaction of diode laser radiation enhanced by topical application of dye causes localized superficial thermal effects in skin. This may offer a new modality in the treatment of superficial lesions.