Application of Fractal Dimension and Texture Analysis to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Treatment of a Venous Lake in the Oral Mucosa Using a 980 nm Diode Laser—A Preliminary Study

Venous lake (VL) is a common lesion resulting from the enlargement of thin-walled veins surrounded by a thick wall of fibrous tissue. Photocoagulation is becoming one of the basic methods for treating small vascular lesions. The aim of this study was an application of texture analysis (TA) and fractal dimension analysis (FDA) to evaluate VL treatment. Twenty-three VLs were included in the study. We used a 980 nm diode laser, 6 W, 100 ms pulse mode with a 50% duty cycle. The total dose of energy was in a range from 80 J to 600 J. We used the difference of intensity algorithm for FDA and microcontrast and a co-occurrence matrix for TA. A complete therapeutic effect was achieved in 83%, and in 9%, scar formation was observed after three months. No healing was observed in 4%, and there was partial healing in 4%. No differences in FD were observed between the lesions after three months and the healthy mucosa. The fractal dimension and microcontrast of a vascular lesion are mutually coupled. FDA and TA is a useful and objective method of assessing treatment effects for venous lakes. The non-contact mode of the 980 nm diode laser is an effective and safe method for treating a VL.

Aesthetic Treatment Outcomes of Capillary Hemangioma, Venous Lake, and Venous Malformation of the Lip Using Different Surgical Procedures and Laser Wavelengths (Nd:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, CO2, and Diode 980 nm)

Different approaches with different clinical outcomes have been found in treating capillary hemangioma (CH), venous lake (VL), or venous malformations (VM) of the lips. This retrospective study aims to assess scar quality, recurrence rate, and patient satisfaction after different surgeries with different laser wavelengths. A total of 143 patients with CH or VM were included. Nd:YAG laser was used for 47 patients, diode 980 nm laser was used for 32 patients (treatments by transmucosal photo-thermo-coagulation), Er,Cr:YSSG laser was used for 12 patients (treatments by excision), and CO2 laser was used for 52 patients (treatments by photo-vaporization). The Manchester scar scale was used by practitioners to assess the scar quality. The recurrence rate and patients’ satisfaction were noted at different follow-ups during 12 months. Our retrospective study showed that laser-assisted aesthetic treatment of vascular lesions (CH, VL, and VM) of the lips can be considered effective regardless of the wavelength used (Er,Cr:YSGG, CO2, Nd:YAG, and diode 980 nm) or the treatment procedure (transmucosal photo-thermo-coagulation, photo-vaporization, and surgical excision). There was no significant difference in patient and practitioner satisfaction with aesthetic outcome at 6 months follow-up. Furthermore, the treatments of lip vascular lesions performed using Er,Cr:YSGG and CO2 lasers did not show any recurrence during the 12 months of follow-up, while recurrence rates of 11% ± 1.4% and 8% ± 0.9% were seen in the diode and Nd:YAG groups, respectively.