Use of laser photocoagulation for treatment of cutaneous angiomatosis in one dog and two cats.

One dog and 2 cats were evaluated because of multiple progressively enlarging cutaneous vascular plaques. Biopsies were performed and revealed small well-circumscribed dermal nodules of dilated fully enclosed blood-filled spaces lined by single layers of endothelial cells aligned on thin fibrous walls, with minimal mitotic activity. A diagnosis of cutaneous angiomatosis was made in all 3 animals. Cutaneous angiomatosis is a progressive proliferative lesion of vascular tissue involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of dogs and cats. Lasers of selected wavelengths have been used to induce photothermal coagulation of hemoglobin-containing cutaneous lesions in humans; argon-pumped dye and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers were used to treat the cutaneous lesions in the animals of this report. Laser treatment may provide an alternative to wide surgical resection or limb amputation for management of this condition in veterinary patients.