Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Using a 1064-nm Picosecond Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser for Periorbital Hyperpigmentation
Published on: May 23, 2025
Pulsed dye laser treatment of vascular lesions in childhood
Zoran Barčot1, Božidar Zupančić
1University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Division of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Vinogradska 29, Zagreb, Croatia. zoran.barcot@zg.t-com.hr
Insights
Vascular birthmarks like hemangiomas and vascular malformations require different treatments. Pulsed dye laser therapy is the standard for managing pediatric vascular lesions, offering effective treatment with minimal damage.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Vascular Lesions
Background:
- Congenital vascular abnormalities, primarily hemangiomas and vascular malformations, present at birth or shortly after.
- While visually similar, hemangiomas typically regress spontaneously, whereas vascular malformations persist and can grow, ranging from life-threatening to cosmetic concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the distinct characteristics and management of hemangiomas versus vascular malformations.
- To emphasize the critical role of laser therapy in treating pediatric vascular lesions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current understanding of vascular lesion biology and laser technology.
- Application of pulsed dye laser therapy, considering wavelength, energy density, and pulse duration for effective thermocoagulation.
Main Results:
- Laser therapy allows for selective treatment of pediatric vascular lesions with minimal collateral damage.
- Pulsed dye lasers are identified as the current standard of care for most pediatric vascular lesions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding vascular lesion biology and advancements in laser technology have significantly improved treatment outcomes.
- Pulsed dye laser therapy offers an optimal and effective approach for managing diverse pediatric vascular lesions.
Abstract:
Almost all congenital vascular abnormalities affect the skin and are evident from birth or become so during the first few weeks of life. The two most common types of vascular birthmarks, hemangiomas and vascular malformations, may appear to be very similar but their course and treatment are different. Hemangiomas appear in the first few weeks of life and usually regress spontaneously over time. Vascular malformations are always present from birth even though they might not be apparent, never disappear and often grow during the person's lifetime and may vary extremely from high blood flow lesions, sometimes located in critical sites that may be life-threatening to asymptomatic spots of mere aesthetic concern. Laser therapy nowadays has become indispensable in the management of pediatric vascular lesions. With a proper balance of wavelength, energy density and pulse duration, the laser energy of thermo coagulation could be molded to effectively manage different lesions. Both dermatology and plastic surgery have been transformed by understanding vascular lesions biology and modern laser technology. As a result, we can now provide an optimal selective treatment with minimal collateral damage. Although alternatives such as the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), red/infrared (IR), or intense pulsed light lasers are available, pulsed dye lasers continue to be the standard of care for the majority of pediatric vascular lesions.
