The relationship between location, color, and vessel structure within capillary vascular malformations

The treatment of capillary vascular malformations by laser is well established. Despite this, only a minority of patients obtain full clearance of their lesion after treatment. Both anatomic location and color have been proposed as prognostic factors determining the amount of improvement seen after laser treatment. This study uses the technique of depth measuring video microscopy to examine the hypothesis that smaller and more deeply placed capillaries may be responsible for the poorer response seen in certain anatomic locations. Fifty sites on 44 previously untreated patients were examined resting in a temperature-controlled room at 28 degrees C. No statistically significant correlation was found between color, based on a Munsell color chart recording and capillary depth or diameter. Also, no correlation was found between diameter, depth, or type of capillary ectasia and anatomic site. The authors believe that other factors, such as alteration in blood flow between different anatomic regions, and not vessel morphology alone, may be responsible for this variation in response.