Fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of skin grafts: long-term results of a prospective, randomized, split-scar, evaluator-blinded study.

Background: Fractional ablative resurfacing is frequently used for treating atrophic and acne scars as well as for the early improvement of scars after surgery. No evidence-based clinical data on improving the appearance of skin grafts by fractional CO -laser resurfacing have been available so far.

Objectives: The primary outcome parameter was the adaptation of the skin graft to the surrounding skin 2, 6, and 12 months after the second laser treatment.

Genetic alterations driving metastatic colony formation are acquired outside of the primary tumour in melanoma.

Mouse models indicate that metastatic dissemination occurs extremely early; however, the timing in human cancers is unknown. We therefore determined the time point of metastatic seeding relative to tumour thickness and genomic alterations in melanoma. Here, we find that lymphatic dissemination occurs shortly after dermal invasion of the primary lesion at a median thickness of ~0.

S1 guideline: microscopically controlled surgery (MCS).

When using procedures that enable complete examination of surgical margins (3D histology), microscopically controlled surgery (MCS) represents a safe and proven method to confirm R0 resection of infiltrating tumors, especially at problematic sites, while preserving the adjacent tissue. This allows for excellent or good aesthetic results that are superior (cryosurgery, short-range irradiation) or equivalent (PDT) to nonsurgical and less safe procedures (PDT).

Fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of rhytides and photoageing: a prospective study using profilometric analysis.

Background: Results of profilometric skin analyses after fractional ablative skin resurfacing are not only important for evaluating the efficacy of this therapy but are also relevant for physicians practising laser and aesthetic skin therapy. Currently, objective measurements of wrinkle reduction after fractional CO2 laser resurfacing are scarce, and it remains unclear whether the various facial areas respond differently to this therapy.

Objectives: To measure wrinkle parameters, the homogeneity of melanin distribution and skin roughness in four facial areas (periorbital, perioral, forehead, cheeks) before and after three fractional CO2 laser treatments.

[Potential and limitations of dye laser therapy for capillary malformations].

Capillary malformations (port-wine stains) are observed in less than 1 % of neonates and may occur coincidentally with other vascular and nonvascular malformations. Two thirds of lesions occur in the head and neck area and may have important cosmetic and psychological implications for the patients. Treatment with flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye lasers is still the therapy of choice for capillary malformations and can be applied to infants.

Indocyanine green-augmented diode laser treatment of port-wine stains: clinical and histological evidence for a new treatment option from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Complete clearance of port-wine stains (PWS) is difficult to achieve, mainly because of the resistance of small blood vessels to laser irradiation. Indocyanine green (ICG)-augmented diode laser treatment (ICG+DL) may overcome this problem.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of ICG+DL therapy of PWS and to compare the safety and efficacy of ICG+DL with the standard treatment, flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL).

Experience with non-ablative fractional photothermolysis with a dual-mode laser device (1,440/1,320 nm): no considerable clinical effect on hypertrophic/acne scars and facial wrinkles.

In the literature, non-ablative fractionated photothermolysis (nFP) is accredited with improvement of wrinkles and scars combined with a reduced downtime. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the impact of a combination laser (1,320/1,440 nm) for nFP on hypertrophic scars, acne scars, and facial wrinkles. Thirty-six patients suffering from hypertrophic scars (n = 7), acne scars (n = 9), and wrinkles (n = 20) were treated using a combination Nd:YAG laser [λ(em) = 1,320 and 1,440 nm, pulse duration: 3-ms single pulse, fluence: 8.

Split-face comparison of intense pulsed light with short- and long-pulsed dye lasers for the treatment of port-wine stains.

Background: So far, pulsed dye lasers have been regarded as the gold standard in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS). Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been reported to achieve more pronounced fading in some patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and the side effects of IPL treatment of PWS in a direct comparison to the short-pulsed dye laser (SPDL) and the long-pulsed dye laser (LPDL).

[Innovations in dermatologic laser therapy].

Dermatologic laser therapy is a rapidly-changing field with many new innovations. One of the most important is the introduction of fractional photothermolysis. This method is established for skin rejuvenation and acne scars; both the original non-ablative devices and newer ablative ones are available.

Microscopically controlled surgery (MCS).

To confirm a local R0 resection of tumors with infiltrative growth at problem sites and for sparing of tissue, microscopically controlled surgery represents a safe and proven method, particularly when there are no gaps between the tissue taken at the incision margins.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy--evaluation of native tissue sections in micrographic surgery.

Micrographic surgery is mainly used for excising basal cell carcinomas in high-risk body sites. The time-consuming process of frozen histopathology could be potentially accelerated by the application of ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CM). We examined the margins of 52 excised basal cell carcinomas by means of CM, and compared the results to conventional histological findings.

Progressive disseminated essential telangiectasia and erythrosis interfollicularis colli as examples for successful treatment with a high-intensity flashlamp.

Background: Treatment of progressive disseminated essential telangiectasia and erythrosis interfollicularis colli by flashlamp pulsed dye laser frequently results in a mottled appearance and often leads to hypo- or hyperpigmentation after treatment. Furthermore, treatment is time-consuming due to the small spot size.

Objective: To report the successful removal of thin vessels in patients with the above-mentioned indications by an intense pulsed light (IPL) source.

The venous nevus: a distinct vascular malformation suggesting mosaicism.

Background: Venous malformations are common vascular anomalies which only occur sporadically.

Objective: We present a series of 25 patients with extratruncular venous malformations of the skin or the neighboring mucosa that are arranged in a segmental pattern.

Results: All lesions were sporadic and mostly unilateral.

Gene expression profiling of melanocytes following Q-Switched Ruby laser irradiation.

Background: The Q-switched Ruby laser (QSRL) is used for the treatment of pigmented lesions. The influence of QSRL treatment on gene expression of nontransformed primary melanocytes has not been addressed in vitro.

Objective: We investigated the gene expression profile of melanocytes following QSRL irradiation.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia treated by pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1,064 nm).

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a familial, autosomal, dominant, multi-system, vascular, dysplasia. Besides repetitive epistaxis, cutaneous eruptive macules and nodules lead to recurring bleeding and cosmetic problems. We report on a pilot study of four cases of HHT in which cutaneous lesions were treated with a pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (1,064 nm).

A woman with a dangling digit.

Ainhum (dactylolysis spontanea) is a distinct clinical and radiological disorder of dark-skinned people characterized by a progressive development of a constricting band encircling the toe which usually results in spontaneous amputation. Ainhum mainly occurs in African natives, but in times of global migration and tourism, Ainhum is likely to be more often encountered outside Africa. Even though the clinical presentation can mimic more common entities such as arthritis and trauma, the correct diagnosis and treatment is easy if one knows this unusual entity.