Treatment of intractable port-wine stains

Port-wine stains (PWS) are a common congenital capillary malformation. The lesions of PWS appear to gradually darken in color and thicken with age, and even progress into nodules in late stage. Based on the principles of selective photothermolysis, pulsed dye laser (PDL) has become a standard treatment for PWS. However, for some intractable PWS, single PDL treatment shows unsatisfactory and even no effects. Considering this state, the authors summarize multiple treatment strategies for intractable PWS with thick or nodular lesions, providing a reference for their treatment. Key words: Port-wine stain; Laser therapy; Photochemotherapy; Angiogenesis inhibitors; Intense pulsed light