[Therapeutic concept in hemangioma--photocoagulation with the copper vapor laser]

The copper vapor laser emits light with a wavelength of 578 nm and is well suited for photocoagulation of oxyhemoglobin and for selective destruction of vascular tissue. In 46 children hemangioma of different proliferation stages was treated by yellow laser photocoagulation. In 15 cases surgical treatment of the subcutaneous component of the hemangioma was necessary in addition to the laser photocoagulation. Most of the children in early proliferation stages could be treated with a single session of photocoagulation. The risk of hypotrophic oder hypertrophic scaring using the copper vapor laser is minimum (less than 1%) because the overlying dermis remains largely unaffected. In this article we present a therapy plan for conservative treatment and laser photocoagulation using the copper vapor laser.