Ultrasound-guided interstitial Nd:YAG laser therapy of cavernous hemangiomas

Preoperative embolization and excision used to be standard therapy amongst a wide range of other more or less successful methods for the treatment of voluminous hemangiomas. Nowadays a combination of argon, tunable dye, copper vapor and Nd:YAG laser therapy achieves better cosmetic and functional results. Due to its limited penetration depth percutaneous laser therapy can only be utilized for superficial vascular malformations. Interstitial laser therapy, as performed with the Nd:YAG laser, allows treatment of voluminous hemangiomas in their full extent. The localization of these vascular lesions is evaluated by high resolution ultrasound with a new anular array scanner which ensures the precise intraoperative placement of the laser light fiber in the target tissue. Modified new light applicators improve the interstitial thermotherapy of hemangiomas. The tip design of the scattering-dome fiber allows diffuse circumferential irradiation with larger defined coagulation volume and minimized carbonization. Continuous intraoperative sonographic monitoring lowers the risk of damaging adjacent intact anatomical structures, helps to reach all tumor areas an to estimate the effect of the applied laser light caused by changes of sonomorphology. The postoperative outcome is evaluated by B-mode sonography and the new technique of ultrasound color angiography.