Can superficial veins of the chest wall be removed or treated with lasers?

From the Guidelines

Superficial veins on the chest wall can indeed be removed or treated with lasers, with the most effective treatment option being endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) for larger vessels, as supported by the American Family Physician journal in 2019 1. The treatment options for superficial veins on the chest wall include:

• Sclerotherapy: involves injecting a solution into the veins that causes them to collapse and fade over time
• Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT): uses laser energy delivered through a thin fiber to heat and seal the vein
• Surgical removal (phlebectomy): involves making tiny incisions to remove the veins, typically recommended for larger veins The best approach depends on the size and location of the veins, with smaller veins responding well to laser treatments and larger ones potentially requiring surgical removal, as noted in the study published in the American Family Physician journal in 2019 1. These procedures are typically performed on an outpatient basis with minimal recovery time, and the choice of treatment should be determined after consultation with a vascular surgeon or dermatologist who specializes in vein treatments, as they can assess your specific condition and recommend the most effective option, as suggested by the study published in the American Family Physician journal in 2019 1. It is essential to consider the size and location of the veins when choosing a treatment option, as well as the potential risks and benefits associated with each procedure, to ensure the best possible outcome in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. The use of endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) has been shown to be effective in treating larger vessels, including the great saphenous vein, with a low risk of complications, as reported in the study published in the American Family Physician journal in 2019 1. Ultimately, the decision to proceed with treatment and the choice of treatment should be based on symptoms and patient preferences, as well as other considerations such as cost, potential for complications, availability of resources, insurance reimbursement, and physician training, as noted in the study published in the American Family Physician journal in 2019 1.

From the Research

Superficial Veins of the Chest Wall

• Superficial veins of the chest wall can be treated with sclerotherapy, which is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a sclerosing agent to close off the vein 2, 3.
• Foam sclerotherapy is a type of sclerotherapy that uses a foam-like substance to treat varicose veins and venous malformations 3, 4.
• The efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy have been demonstrated in several studies, with high success rates and low complication rates 3, 4, 5.
• Laser treatment is not typically used to remove superficial veins of the chest wall, but it may be used in conjunction with sclerotherapy or other treatments in some cases.

Treatment Options

• Sclerotherapy with foam is a viable treatment option for superficial veins of the chest wall, particularly for varicose veins and venous malformations 2, 3, 4.
• The choice of sclerosing agent, such as sodium tetradecyl sulfate or polidocanol, may depend on the specific condition being treated and the patient's individual needs 2, 3, 6.
• Foam stability is an important factor in sclerotherapy, and the type of connector used in the double-syringe system technique may not affect foam stability 6.

Predictors of Treatment Response

• Predictors of treatment response to foam sclerotherapy include the location of the venous malformation, with trunk locations tend to have better outcomes than head and neck locations 5.
• A high baseline numerical rating scale (NRS) score may also be a positive predictor of pain improvement with foam sclerotherapy 5.