Treatment of ulcerated haemangiomas with a non-coherent pulsed light source: brief initial clinical report.

BACKGROUND

Ulceration is the most common complication of infantile haemangiomas and constitutes an authentic therapeutic challenge because of associated pain, infection, haemorrhage and subsequent scarring.

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience with an intense pulsed light (IPL) system in the treatment of ulcerated haemangiomas.

METHODS

Case 1: A 4-month-old girl, with haemangioma affecting the entire cutaneous surface of the left limb, developed four ulcerations on the inner aspect of this extremity. Two sessions with an IPL system using a triple pulse mode, a 570-nm lower cut-off filter and a fluence of 38 J/cm2 were performed. Case 2: A 5-month-old girl with ulcerated labial haemangioma that previously failed to respond to intralesional corticoids was treated with an IPL system device. Three sessions using a triple pulse mode with a 570-nm lower cut-off filter and a fluence of 48 J/cm2 were realized.

RESULTS

Good results were rapidly obtained after two and four sessions of IPL treatment, respectively. Pain was soon relieved and complete epithelization was obtained by between 1 and 2 months in both patients.

CONCLUSION

Although our experience is rare, we believe that IPL devices may be an effective alternative treatment of ulcerated haemangiomas.