Nevus Sebaceous: Response to Erbium YAG laser ablation

• Main Author: Aithal Aithal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 2005-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
• Subjects: nevus sebaceous; erbium yag laser
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0039-1699071

The potential of nevus sebaceous to undergo malignant change has prompted many physicians to undertake surgical excision of these lesions. Debulking surgery would leave an ugly scar, cosmetically not acceptable. Our aim was to find the therapeutic outcome and the final cosmetic appearance with Erbium YAG Laser ablation. A 19 year old boy with histologically proven Nevus Sebaceous over the forehead was taken up for ablation using Erbium YAG Laser. We also analyzed the post-operative results in another 6 patients who underwent Laser ablation of Nevus Sebaceous. All 7 patients did well, with no signs of recurrence. Also, all of them had a scar over the ablated area, which was cosmetically acceptable to them. Surgical excision with or without flap rotation, electro fulguration and Cryotherapy are other modalities to treat these lesions. However, they are either too expensive or leave a telltale scar. Erbium YAG Laser ablation is safe, effective and cosmetically acceptable in the treatment of Nevus Sebaceous.