Non-Surgical Treatment of Lip Venous Lake using a 980nm Diode Laser: Report of a Series of 10 Cases

Introduction Venous lake (VL) is characterized by vascular proliferation, clinically evidenced as soft tumor with red-bluish color. If traumatized VL are prone to hemorrhage and their treatment usually requires caution to prevent bleeding. In the last decade lasers have changed the treatment options of VL permitting the application of non-surgical techniques that reduced the hemorrhage risks and unpleasant tissue deformities. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome after non-contact laser assisted technique for management of VL. Materials and methods Ten patients (3 men and 7 women) with VL on the lip were treated using a non-contact mode and power output of 2-3 W in continuous wave). The laser used in this study is a diode laser (LiteMedics, Italy, 980nm) selected due to its great affinity to hemoglobin. Results After only one session, all lesions were successfully treated. Healing was completed in approximately 2 to 3 weeks, and none of the patients experienced complications. Postoperative discomfort and scarring were not present. Conclusions Non-contact photocoagulation with diode laser is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of VL. As usual in laser surgery to optimize the results and to reduce the risks and disadvantages, principle knowledge on laser devices and laser-tissue interaction is conditional.