A Retrospective Study of the Factors Associated with the Effect of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment in Patients with Capillary Malformation

Background: Pulsed dye laser treatment is a proven effective treatment for capillary malformation. Previous studies have shown different responses to pulsed dye laser depending on the anatomical location of the capillary malformation. Objective: This retrospective study assessed the potential differences in treatment response depending on anatomical location and the factors affecting pulsed dye laser treatment response. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 88 patients with capillary malformation (nevus flammeus or port-wine stain) in the head and neck area treated with pulsed dye laser between November 2005 and January 2019. Dermatologists evaluated the effect of treatment from photographs taken before and after treatment. The anatomical location in the head and neck, lesion size, number of treatments, and the presence of proliferative lesion were analyzed from medical records and photographs. Results: The analyzed 88 patients included 121 lesions. The lesion size and die presence of proliferative lesions significantly affected the treatment effect; however, the location of the lesion in the head and neck did not. Conclusion: Smaller lesion size and the absence of proliferative lesion showed better effects of pulsed dye laser treatment. Unlike previous studies, the lesion location did not significantly affect the treatment effect.