The role of the 595-nm pulsed dye laser in treating XXXX : outcome of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

@entity1 @entity4182 @entity5 @entity158 @entity1491
BACKGROUND: Pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments have been suggested to be a safe and effective therapeutic approach for treating @entity1491 ( @entity1491 ). However, robust supporting evidence is lacking due to inconsistent design of available studies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate PDL efficacy and safety in treating superficial BCC (sBCC) at low-risk anatomical sites in an evidence-based study setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine @entity1 (27 @entity1 and 12 @entity1 , 75  9      10  years) with a total of 100 sBCCs were randomized to receive PDL treatment (wavelength 595  nm; fluence 8  J  cm(-2) ; pulse duration 0  5  ms; spot size 10  mm) or sham treatment. The primary endpoint was complete clinical and histological remission of the @entity5 at 6-month follow-up; the secondary endpoints were the evaluation of side-effects and @entity158 as well as @entity1 satisfaction. RESULTS: The primary endpoint showed significant superiority of the laser group to the sham group (P  <  0  0001). Complete remission was achieved in 44 of 56 cases (78  6%) in the laser and in two of 44 cases (4  5%) in the sham treatment arm. The main adverse events in the laser group were crusts, @entity4182 . An average of 72% of @entity1 stated at the individual sessions that they were 'satisfied' with the laser treatment, whereas 25% were 'very satisfied'. CONCLUSIONS: PDL is an effective and safe method for treating sBCC. However, the occurrence of persistent dyspigmentation still limits the potential for excellent cosmetic outcomes.
