Abstract
The argon laser has made an important contribution to the treatment of portwine stains (PWS) . Since the initial work of Goldmann et al, in 1968, studies carried out by many reserchers have been limited almost to the clinical effect of laser beam. PWS are common congenital vascular lesions appearing mainly on the face. Therefore, it is difficult to establish histological effect after exposure of the laser beam to the lesion, especially the relationship between the extent of the destuction of the tissue and the power of the leser beam. And there have not been a report of the condition of surface ultrastructure of human skin with PWS after laser treatment. In this study the author tried to assess the influence of laser beam upon the PWS. In the light microscopic study laser beam reached only the superficial layer of the dermis in the biosy specimen which was obtained clinical result and also in the biopsy specimen which was obtained immediately after experimental laser irradiation in several level of power. In the scanning electron microscopic study by Replica preparation, surface of the skin normally reveals, furrows forming triangular or rectangular fields. Such ultrastructure was destroyed after laser treatment, but these normals skin furrows retruns after one to three months. And if th skin revealed much subcutaneous scar or hypertrophic scarring, the skin field or furrows have been destroyed in propotion to the amount of scarring, which describe texture objectively.
