A Case of Ota's Nevus Treated by Combination Therapy with Cryosurgery and the Q-Switched Alexandrit Laser

Koo, Bon Sik; Kong, Soo Deuk; Lee, Kyu Suk

Abstract

Ota's nevus is a mongolian spot-like macular blue-black or gray-brown patchy pigmentation that most commonly occurs unilaterally in areas innervated by the first and second division of the trigeminal nerve. We report a case of Ota's nevus treated by combination therapy with cryosurgery and a Q-switched Alexandrite laser. A 48-year-old female had had a type III Ota's nevus from birth. Cryosurgery was tried at first using hard chalk dry ice on the lesion of the forehead and cheek. After that, The Q-switched Alexandrite laser was used three times at twelve week intervals at the site of the eyelid. Good therapeutic effects were gained and our patient was very satisfied. There were no complications or scarring. A Biopsy of the area treated revealed a similar histological pattern with significantly less melanin indicating melanin removal. Combination therapy with cryosurgery and an Alexandrite laser on the Ota's nevus may be cheaper, more effective and a safer method. It may also reduce the limitation of the two methods when used individually.