Intralesional bare fiber laser treatment of hemangioma of infancy.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of intralesional fiber with the KTP laser on treatment of hemangiomas in infancy. A series of 12 patients (1 month to 3 1/2 years) were treated for hemangioma of the head and neck regions. Results were as follows: 92 percent, > 50 percent reduction at 3 months; 8 percent, > 50 percent reduction at 6 months. To achieve these results, 50 percent required two treatments (six cases), and 8 percent required three treatments (one case). Improvement of function was clearly in the proliferative phase. Lesions on three patients (25 percent) ulcerated following laser therapy. No other side effects or complications were noted. Intralesional fiber therapy is determined to be effective and safely used to induce involution of voluminous hemangiomas of the face and neck regions.