ATLANTA A novel technology that combines diode laser and radiofrequency energy may be safe and effective for treating leg veins, Dr. Neil Sadick reported at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology.
In a two-center study involving 50 women with lower extremity red or blue leg veins up to 4 mm in diameter, the Polaris LV system (Syneron Inc., Richmond Hill, Ont.) provided at least 50% vessel clearance in 76% of patients. The clearing persisted at 6 months of follow-up, said Dr. Sadick of Cornell University, New York.
The system uses a 915-nm laser. Patients were treated with one to three passes at each of three treatment sessions scheduled at 2-week intervals.
Pre- and posttreatment photographs were graded by patients and an independent physician at a 2-month follow-up visit to determine the level of vessel clearance, and a score was generated by a novel computer-based assessment system. Independent observer analysis was corroborated by the computer imaging analysis.
Biopsy specimens also were provided for histologic assessment, which showed signs of coagulation and prominent endothelial degeneration in all treated vessels, said Dr. Sadick, who is a research consultant for Syneron.
A subsequent study showed that the Polaris LV system's effects were comparable histopathologically with those of the 1064-nm wavelength laser.
Complications with the Polaris LV system were minimal. A slight increase in the amount of hyperpigmentation and bruising was noted, compared with the 1064-nm laser, but pain was considerably less with the 915-nm laser.