Q-switched Ruby Laser Therapy Research Articles

The outcome of using different surgical modalities and laser therapy in the treatment of small‐ and medium‐sized congenital melanocytic nevi: a systematic review

The purpose of this study is to review the published articles regarding different surgical modalities including laser therapy in the treatment of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN). A systematic review was done using several databases including PubMed, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar, and Medline to search for articles related to surgical excisions and different treatment modalities of CMN. Fourteen studies were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results have shown that the Q-switched ruby laser therapy was the most commonly used laser therapy to treat CMN. Overall, using laser therapy had positive outcomes in CMN treatment. However, limited knowledge was available regarding patient satisfaction with the outcomes of laser therapy. We concluded that the most acceptable surgical choice was using excision with tissue expanders. Laser-intense pulsed light (IPL) alone and in combination with Erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) has a risk of recurrence. Combination of types of the laser is more effective than a single one.

Q-switched ruby laser therapy and long-term follow-up evaluation of small to medium-sized congenital melanocytic naevi

Q-switched ruby laser therapy and long-term follow-up evaluation of small to medium-sized congenital melanocytic naevi

Treatment of Imipramine-Induced Dyspigmentation with Q-Switched Alexandrite Laser Therapy

The development of blue or gray cutaneous hyperpigmentation is a rare complication of chronic imipramine therapy. Treatment options for imipramine-induced hyperpigmentation are limited but include topical retinoids, bleaching agents, and laser therapy, with varying degrees of success. We report a case in which Q-switched alexandrite laser therapy alone led to nearly complete resolution of imipramine-induced dyspigmentation in a patient who had been taking this medication for 4 decades. Paradoxical darkening of imipramine-induced hyperpigmentation after combined Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) and Q-switched ruby laser therapy has recently been demonstrated. Here, we further report a similar pattern of focal paradoxical hyperpigmentation after treatment of imipramine-induced hyperpigmentation with Q-switched alexandrite laser therapy that resolved with additional treatment sessions.

Early serial Q-switched ruby laser therapy for medium-sized to giant congenital melanocytic naevi

Medium-sized to giant congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) are difficult to treat, especially if the lesions appear on the face or extremities where treated areas are visible and cosmesis is important. In infants, nests of pigmented naevus reside more superficially and the skin is more transparent than in adults, so we treated medium-sized to giant CMN with early serial Q-switched ruby laser therapy from infancy. We treated nine patients with medium-sized to giant CMN on the face or upper limbs from 1 month of age with early serial Q-switched ruby laser therapy. The laser power was initially 5 J cm(-2) and increased in 0.5 J cm(-2) steps to a maximum of 10 J cm(-2). There were three treatment sites on the forehead, one on the temple, one on the cheek and four on the upper arm. It took 8-15 treatments for the CMN to become a colour similar to the surrounding skin. The mean number of treatments was 9.6. The colour was reduced to 0-20% of the colour of the baseline lesion in all nine patients. Partial slight repigmentation occurred in eight of these patients. These naevi were treated with an additional one or two Q-switched ruby laser irradiations and successfully lightened for at least 1 year. In the remaining patient, pigmentation returned to a level similar to the original lesion within 1 month of the last treatment. Therefore, the lesion was excised for cosmetic reasons. After the treatment series, the skin texture was fine and no patients had hypertrophic scarring. Although treatment of one patient with the Q-switched ruby laser therapy failed, the remaining patients responded well and had good to excellent skin texture without hypertrophic scarring. Early serial Q-switched ruby laser treatment, starting from infancy, is a promising treatment method for this condition.

Depigmentation therapy in vitiligo universalis with topical 4-methoxyphenol and the Q-switched ruby laser

Background: Monobenzylether of hydroquinone is used worldwide to remove residual pigment in patients with vitiligo universalis. Because of the side effects reported with this drug, the use of monobenzylether of hydroquinone has been restricted in The Netherlands. Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of a combination therapy consisting of topical 4-methoxyphenol (4-MP) cream and Q-switched ruby (QSR) laser in 16 patients with vitiligo universalis. Methods: In a retrospective study, patient record forms were evaluated. Data were collected regarding history as well as physical and histologic examination. The patients came to the institute for a follow-up visit after a treatment-free period of 2 to 36 months. Results: Thirteen patients received both therapies. Three patients only used the cream. None of the areas was treated by the cream and QSR laser at the same time. In 11 of the 16 patients (69%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 41%-89%) total depigmentation was achieved using the 4-MP cream. Onset of depigmentation was between 4 and 12 months. Four of the 5 patients who did not respond to the 4-MP cream had successful depigmentation with the QSR laser. Mild burning or itching was reported with the cream in 4 cases (25%). Of the 11 patients who responded to the 4-MP cream, 4 had recurrence of pigmentation (relapse rate of 36%; 95% CI, 11%-69%) after a treatment-free period of 2 to 36 months. In 9 of the 13 patients (69%; 95% CI, 39%-91%) total depigmentation was achieved after QSR laser therapy. Onset of depigmentation was between 7 and 14 days after the treatment. Three of the 4 unresponsive patients showed total depigmentation after application of the 4-MP cream. No side effects were observed. Of the 9 patients who responded to QSR laser therapy, 4 had recurrence of pigmentation (relapse rate of 44%; 95% CI, 14%-79%) after a treatment-free period of 2 to 18 months. These patients had a negative Koebner phenomenon. Conclusion: Depigmentation therapy using a 4-MP cream and/or QSR laser therapy is an effective and safe method to remove disfiguring residual pigment in patients with vitiligo universalis. Patients should be warned that repigmentation may occur, even after total depigmentation has been achieved. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;42:760-9.)

Q-Switched ruby laser therapy of acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules.

Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (ABNLM), also called nevus fuscoceruleus zygomaticus or nevus of Hori, is a relatively common disease in Asia. It is refractory to all medical treatment. To present the first report on the use of Q-switched ruby laser to treat ABNLM. One hundred and forty female patients, ages 19-62 years (mean 39 years), were included in the study. The laser fluence employed was 7-10 J/cm2, at a repetition rate of 1 Hz, and with a spot size of 2-4 mm. The number of treatment sessions ranged from 1 to 6 (mean 2.3). Nine patients were lost to follow-up before complete clearance of the lesions, while in the remaining 131 patients complete clearance was obtained. The only complication was a long-term hypopigmentation, observed in three patients. There was no recurrence at 6 months- 4.3 years (mean 2.5 years) of follow-up. Q-switched ruby laser is an effective and less invasive tool to eradicate ABNLM.

Failure of Q-switched ruby laser to eradicate atypical-appearing solar lentigo: Report of two cases

Cutaneous lasers, including argon, Q-switched Nd:YAG, Q-switched ruby, Q-switched alexandrite, and short pulsed dye lasers, have been used to treat solar lentigines and other benign melanocytic lesions. However, the effects of these lasers at standard fluences on atypical melanocytic lesions have not been examined. We describe two patients in whom the Q-switched ruby laser failed to successfully treat clinically atypical-appearing solar lentigines. In both, clinically atypical-appearing melanocytic lesions were treated with excellent initial cosmetic results. In the first patient, the pigmentation returned several months after treatment and continued to increase in size and color. A biopsy specimen 30 months after Q-switched ruby laser therapy revealed a lentigo maligna melanoma. In the second patient, the lesion recurred 6 months after Q-switched ruby laser therapy, and a biopsy specimen 1 year after treatment showed an early lentigo maligna. Thus Q-switched ruby lasers and other cutaneous lasers capable of targeting melanin may be inadequate to eliminate lentigo maligna and other atypical melanocytic lesions completely. These cases emphasize the importance of careful clinical assessment before any laser surgery and the need to advise patients to return for evaluation should pigmentation return. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:314-7.)

Q-switched ruby laser therapy for pigmented skin lesions. (Japanese) J

Q-switched ruby laser therapy for pigmented skin lesions. (Japanese) J

Q-Switched Ruby Laser Therapy of Nevus of Ota

The Q-switched ruby laser has been demonstrated to provide selective photothermolysis of pigmented tissue at a wavelength of 694 nm and a pulse width of 40 ns with dermal penetration. It was used to treat 15 patients with nevus of Ota involving the face with an age range of 6 to 52 years. Other methods of treatment for the nevus of Ota have either left scarring or were ineffective. The clinical efficacy of this laser treatment was evaluated in a comparative photographic analysis. Complete clearing was noted in four of the 15 patients and a minimum of 50% lightening of the original color in the remaining 11. Ten of the 15 patients were Asian, two were white, two were Hispanic, and one was Indian. The energy fluence used varied between 6 and 10 J/cm2, and the number of treatments ranged from 1 to 7. Significant lightening or clearing was found at the higher energy ranges of 9 to 10 J/cm2 with significantly less lightening noted at the lower energy range of 6 to 8.5 J/cm2. No scarring was noted in any of the 15 patients, and some isolated hypopigmentation was noted in one of the subjects. Transient postinflammatory hyperpigmentation of 2 months' duration was noted in only one patient. Q-switched ruby selective photothermolysis appears to be an effective and safe method of lightening or removing nevus of Ota.

Q-switched ruby laser therapy of nevus of Ota

<h3>• Background.</h3> —The Q-switched ruby laser has been demonstrated to provide selective photothermolysis of pigmented tissue at a wavelength of 694 nm and a pulse width of 40 ns with dermal penetration. It was used to treat 15 patients with nevus of Ota involving the face with an age range of 6 to 52 years. Other methods of treatment for the nevus of Ota have either left scarring or were ineffective. The clinical efficacy of this laser treatment was evaluated in a comparative photographic analysis. <h3>Observations.</h3> —Complete clearing was noted in four of the 15 patients and a minimum of 50% lightening of the original color in the remaining 11. Ten of the 15 patients were Asian, two were white, two were Hispanic, and one was Indian. The energy fluence used varied between 6 and 10 J/cm², and the number of treatments ranged from 1 to 7. Significant lightening or clearing was found at the higher energy ranges of 9 to 10 J/cm²with significantly less lightening noted at the lower energy range of 6 to 8.5 J/cm². No scarring was noted in any of the 15 patients, and some isolated hypopigmentation was noted in one of the subjects. Transient postinflammatory hyperpigmentation of 2 months' duration was noted in only one patient. <h3>Conclusion.</h3> —Q-switched ruby selective photothermolysis appears to be an effective and safe method of lightening or removing nevus of Ota.