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Copper vapour laser treatment of port wine stains: a patient questionnaire

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Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to 242 patients who had undergone treatment with yellow light (578 nm) from a copper vapour laser for a port wine stain (PWS), for facial telangiectasia (FT), or for a spider naevus (SN). The questionnaire covered the social implications of the lesion, the physical appearance of the lesion after treatment and the patient's judgement of how the treatment has affected them. Replies were received from 73% of the patients.

The replies revealed that 83% PWS, 74% FT, and 81% SN patients felt there had been an improvement in their appearance compared with 2.5% PWS, 14% FT, and 7.5% SN patients who felt that their appearance had changed for the worse. The overall impression of the treatment was also very positive, especially with PWS patients, 91% would recommend the treatment to others, 84% would have the treatment again and 60% indicated their feelings regarding their overall treatment and the effect it had on their lives was very good.

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Pickering, J.W., Butler, P.H., Ring, B.J. et al. Copper vapour laser treatment of port wine stains: a patient questionnaire. Laser Med Sci 5, 43–49 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02032622

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02032622

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