Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of Warts: Report on a Series of 369 Cases.
10.3346/jkms.2009.24.5.889
- Author:
Tae Young HAN
1
;
Ji Ho LEE
;
Chang Kyun LEE
;
Ji Young AHN
;
Seong Jun SEO
;
Chang Kwun HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea. drseo@hanafos.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Lasers;
Warts
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Female;
Humans;
Lasers, Solid-State/*therapeutic use;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Skin Diseases/pathology/*surgery;
Treatment Outcome;
Warts/pathology/*surgery
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2009;24(5):889-893
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Various treatment methods have been adopted in the management of warts; however, there is still no consensus on first-line treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of warts. Over the course of 1 yr, 369 patients with recalcitrant or untreated warts were exposed to a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The following parameters were used: spot size, 5 mm; pulse duration, 20 msec; and fluence, 200 J/cm2. No concomitant topical treatment was used. In all, 21 patients were lost during follow up; hence, the data for 348 patients were evaluated. The clearance rate was 96% (336 of the 348 treated warts were eradicated). The clearance rate of verruca vulgaris after the first treatment was very high (72.6%), whereas the clearance rate of deep palmopantar warts after the first treatment was low (44.1%). During a median follow-up period of 2.24 months (range, 2-10 months), 11 relapses were seen (recurrence rate, 3.27%). In conclusion, long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser is safe and effective for the removal or reduction of warts and is less dependent on patient compliance than are other treatment options.
