BACKGROUND: Axillary osmidrosis is characterized by an unpleasant odor, profuse sweating, and in some instances, staining of clothes that may socially and psychologically impair affected individuals. Various types of surgical procedures have been developed for the treatment of axillary osmidrosis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of subcutaneous pulsed neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd-YAG) laser treatment for the treatment of axillary osmidrosis. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with axillary osmidrosis were included in this study. Patients were categorized according to the results of an axillary malodor grading system, and a subcutaneous pulsed Nd-YAG laser was applied to all patients. The treatment area for the appropriate distribution of laser energy was determined using the iodine starch test (Minor's test) against a grid pattern composed of 2x2 cm squares. The endpoint of exposure was 300 to 500 J for each grid, depending on the preoperative evaluation results. The results were evaluated by measurement of axillary malodor both pre- and postoperatively using the grading system and iodine starch test. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 12.8 months. Nineteen patients had a fair-to-good result and ten patients had poor results. The postoperative Minor's test demonstrated that there were remarkable improvements for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Complications including superficial second degree burns (n=3) were treated in a conservative manner. A deep second degree burn (n=1) was treated by a surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous pulsed Nd-YAG laser has many advantages and is an effective noninvasive treatment for mild to moderate axillary osmidrosis.
Aluminum ; Axilla ; Burns ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Odors ; Starch ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Yttrium

Cerebral developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is generally benign. However, we have experienced two cases of DVA causing symptoms. In the first case, the patient demonstrated DVA with venous infarction. DVA was visualized in the arterial phase using digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and was diagnosed as arterialized DVA. The second case presented as transient right homonymous hemianopia. DSA revealed venous congestion; the transient aggravation of venous congestion may have caused the symptom. DSA is useful for diagnosing the pathomechanism of symptomatic DVAs.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction* ; Hemianopsia ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Infarction