Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 40:605–610 (2008) Pilot Study Examining the Combined Use of Pulsed Dye Laser and Topical Imiquimod Versus Laser Alone for Treatment of Port Wine Stain Birthmarks

was to improve port wine stain (PWS) therapeutic outcome in response to laser therapy. Our specific aim was to determine whether the combined use of pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy and topical Imiquimod versus PDL alone can improve PWS therapeutic outcome. Study Design/Materials and Methods: This pilot study involved a retrospective review of 20 subjects, all Asian, with PWS. Subject ages ranged between 3 and 56 years. Upon enrollment, three test sites were prospectively identified on each subject for treatment assignments to the following regimens: (A) PDLþImiquimod; (B) PDL alone; and (C) Imiquimod alone. PDL test sites received a single treatment with a 585 nm wavelength; 1.5 milli-seconds pulse duration; spot size 7 mm using a light dosage of 10 J/cm2 with cryogen spray cooling. For th