Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the efficiency and safety of oral corticosteroids combined with long pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of ulcerated infantile hemangioma. METHODS: Oral corticosteroids （prednisone, 4-5 mg/kg·d） combined with long pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser (140-220 J/cm², 40-50 ms, Gentle YAG, 3 mm spot; Candela, USA) were used for 35 pediatric patients with ulcerated hemangioma, whose lesions healed after debridement. The interval was 4 weeks, 2-4 times as a course. After each treatment session, the ulcer healing, lesion improvement, the speed of regression, the time of pain relief, and final outcomes where observed and evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients of ulcerated infantile hemangioma completed the treatment and achieved good results. The efficiency rate was 85.71% (30/35) after last treatment, while 94.28% (33/35) at 3-year follow up. The average course was 3.2±1.6 months. The average re-epithelialization time was 1.89±0.45 weeks after early debridement. All lesions stopped growing or started to regress after 1-2 months treatment. There were no bleeding, infection and other complications. Twenty cases(57.14%) developed hyperpigmentation and 4 cases (11.43%) had depigmentation, which recovered to normal gradually 4 to 5 months after the final treatment. Fifteen patients (42.85%) developed scar, which was related to the lesions at first visit and postoperative nursing. Thirteen cases (37.14%) achieved complete regression at 3-year follow-up. Nine patients required other cosmetic operation to reach satisfied appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Oral corticosteroids combined with long pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser is safe, fast, effective in the treatment of ulcerated infantile hemangioma. Early intervention is important for ulcerated infantile hemangioma.

Key words: Ulcerated infantile hemangioma, Corticosteroids, Long pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser