Treatment of adenoma sebaceum with the copper vapor laser.

BACKGROUND

Angiofibromas of the central part of the face (adenoma sebaceum) occur pathognomonically in tuberous sclerosis, causing significant cosmetic and hygienic morbidity. Treatment has included excision, dermabrasion, cryosurgery, carbon dioxide laser, and argon laser. Copper vapor lasers emit light at 511 nm (green) ad 578 nm (yellow), useful for treating pigmented and vascular lesions, respectively.

OBJECTIVE

Because of the vascular nature and progressive pigmentation of adenoma sebaceum, we examined the utility of the copper vapor laser in treating this disorder.

METHODS

Nine patients with adenoma sebaceum were treated with the copper vapor laser. Individual lesions were treated with the yellow light (578 nm) at 0.4 to 0.6 mW. Pigmented lesions or lesions resistant to treatment were treated with the green light (511 nm) at 0.4 to 0.9 mW. Intervals between treatments were at least 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Good to excellent cosmetic results were seen in all treated patients. Scarring or hyperpigmentation occurred in none of the patients. Most patients required additional treatments with the copper vapor laser as new lesions developed.

CONCLUSION

The copper vapor laser is safe and effective for the treatment of adenoma sebaceum in tuberous slerosis.