Abstract

Objectives: 1: Diagnose port-wine stains. 2: Understand the difference in efficacy and safety between KTP laser and PDL treatment for port-wine stains. 3: Manage and plan treatment approaches for port-wine stains with laser modalities. Introduction: For port-wine stains (PWS), the pulsed dye laser (PDL) is currently the first-line treatment. However, due to the considerable maintenance expenses and technological instability associated with PDL systems, there is a need for alternatives. A recent addition to this field is the large-spot 532 nm KTP laser to address various vascular lesions, including PWS. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of the 532 nm KTP laser in comparison to the 595 nm PDL for treating PWS. Materials / method: A prospective, randomized, split-side study. Divided lesions were randomly assigned to the KTP laser or PDL, with 1 to 5 treatment sessions at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks. A control visit was scheduled 6 weeks after final session. Efficacy was evaluated by using computer-aided colorimetry, measurement of surface area changes, and clinical evaluation by two blinded board-certified dermatologists. Safety assessment involved pain intensity during treatment (numeric rating scale), tolerability, and patient satisfaction (5-point-scale). Results: 35 patients were included in the study. Evaluation revealed significant lightening in erythema (?E = 8.25 after KTP laser vs ?E = 7.43 after PDL) and reduction of area (27.8 % after KTP laser vs 30.9 % after PDL). No significant differences in efficacy between both lasers were observed. Pain level was 2.7/10 for the KTP laser and 3.8/10 for the PDL treated sides, revealing no significant difference. The KTP laser caused significantly less post-treatment swelling, purpura, and crusts. No severe adverse events were observed for either laser. Both lasers indicated high patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Both 532 nm KTP laser and 595 nm PDL are effective techniques for treating PWS. Due to comparable efficacy and safety profiles, lower downtime, and more stable technology, KTP laser may serve as a potential substitute to conventional PDL treatment. Further prospective clinical trials are warranted to assess long-term effects and adverse events of the 532 nm KTP laser.