Treatment of verrucous epidermal nevus: experience with 71 cases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of 71 cases with verrucous epidermal nevus (VEN) treated by cryotherapy or CO2 laser.

METHODS

The files and photographs of patients with VEN who were treated in the laser unit of a tertiary hospital between January 2005 and December 2011 were evaluated. Pretreatment and 12-month follow-up photographs were evaluated using a 5-point scale: 'excellent' (75-100% clearance), 'good' (50-75% clearance), 'fair' (25-50% clearance), 'poor' (<25% clearance) or 'worse'.

RESULTS

Of 71 patients, 62 responded well to cryotherapy alone, and 9 facial VEN required CO2 laser treatment. Small VEN required relatively few treatments (mean 3.4) with 90% scoring 'excellent' and 10% scoring 'good'. Larger VEN required more treatments (mean 7.4) and did not respond as well, with 71% scoring 'excellent', 14% scoring 'good' and 14% scoring 'fair'.

CONCLUSION

Our experience suggests that cryotherapy is the ideal treatment for small facial VEN, while ablation by CO2 laser should be considered an option for resistant facial lesions.