Argon laser treatment of cutaneous vascular abnormalities: progress report.

One hundred six cutaneous vascular abnormalities were treated over a 3-year period by the argon laser. Absorption of light energy causes heat coagulation of the hemangioma with sparing of the overlying skin and secondary skin appendages. Patients with port wine hemangiomas, capillary/cavernous hemangiomas, and telangiectasia showed good response to argon laser treatment. Superficial varicosities of the lower extremity proved to be relatively insensitive to laser treatment. The argon laser shows promise as an effective clinical tool in the treatment of hemangiomas; however, further clinical and laboratory investigation will be necessary to establish the laser as the modality of choice in the treatment of such lesions.