A Retrospective Study on the Characteristics of Treating Nevus of Ota by 1064-nm Q-switched Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QS Nd:YAG) laser has a significant effect in treating nevus of Ota, but there is lack of a retrospective study about the characteristics of efficacy. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyze the correlation between the clinical characteristics and efficacy, complications, recurrence of QS Nd:YAG laser in treating nevus of Ota. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-one Chinese patients (144 female, 27 male) of nevus of Ota were treated with the 1064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser. All cases were treated with fluencies of 4–8 J/cm(2) and a spot size of 2–4 mm. Clinical photographs were taken before every treatment and patients were followed up by their clinicians. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-five patients (84.8%) acquired more than 75% improvement with an average of 4.6 sessions. The treatment effect has no significant correlation with sex (P > 0.05). The blue-black and brown lesions improved more than the light-brown (P < 0.05). Hyperpigmentation affected two (1.2%) of the patients and hypopigmentation affected one patient (0.6%). No other adverse effect was observed. Recurrence was seen in two patients (1.2%). CONCLUSION: The 1064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser is effective with rare complications and recurrence in the treatment of nevus of Ota. The efficacy correlated with lesion color, which is meaningful to estimate the prognosis.