Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of Warts: Report on a Series of 369 Cases |
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| Authors: | Tae Young Han Ji Ho Lee Chang Kyun Lee Ji Young Ahn Seong Jun Seo and Chang Kwun Hong |
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| Institution: | 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.;2Gowoonsesang Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea.;3Department of Dermatology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | Lasers Warts |
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