Histology of port-wine stain treated with carbon dioxide laser. A preliminary report.

The port-wine stain (PWS) has always been a difficult lesion to treat cosmetically. Laser surgery has proved to be a beneficial mode of therapy. Histology after argon laser surgery in successfully treated lesions is remarkable for blood vessels relatively free of erythrocytes. Our preliminary histologic findings in lesions successfully treated with carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery revealed similar results, although the mechanisms may be different.