Treatment of multiple angiofibromata with the pulsed dye laser

Abstract

One of the more disabling cutaneous features of tuberous sclerosis is the angiofibromatous lesions, 'adenoma sebaceum' which occur in about 90% of patients. These are clinically manifested as smooth dome-shaped papules of variable erythema dependent on the degree of vascular ectasia within individual lesions. Increased vascularity produces more cosmetically disabling lesions. Seven patients with adenoma sebaceum, five male and two female (mean age 16.2 years, range 10–39 years), were treated using a pulsed dye laser at a wavelength of 585 nm. The average number of treatment sessions was 5.7 (range 2–10), the mean energy was 6.7 J/cm² (range 6.0–7.5 J/cm²) and the average number of pulses was 86.2 (range 27–200). Clinical assessment of treatment efficacy was as follows: excellent, one; very good, one; good, three; and fair, two. No serious adverse events were encountered. Treatment of angiofibromata with the pulsed dye laser is a useful and safe procedure for adults and children.

Key Words:

• Angiofibromata
• Pulsed dye laser