Argon laser treatment of port-wine stains: the patients' evaluations of the result.

The argon laser is now a well-established method of treating port-wine stains (PWS) in the face and neck areas. Satisfactory results are reported in 44 to 75 percent of cases, but criteria for that classification and the patients' perceptions of the result are seldom given. In the present paper, a sample of 58 patients was used to assess the patients' own perceptions of the degree of lightening and scarring. Three felt the results were excellent, 23 good, 18 fair, and 14 poor. The treatment was considered as unpleasant by 76 percent, and 55 percent of the patients asked for a new consultation. Scarring was noticed by 50 percent. The patients' perceptions of the results and physicians' rating were the same in 69 percent. The best results were obtained in older patients with small port-wine stains. Such lesions also can be treated surgically with good results.