Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41731817›Full record

SynthesisMedicine2026

Investigating the efficacy and safety of the 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser in treating nevus of Ota: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mishari Tariq Alrubaiaan, Ahmed Hisham Almajed, Saif Alagha, Futun Abdulhadi Alsallom, Latifah Albrahim, Khalid Nabil Nagshabandi, Lamia Alakrash

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mishari Tariq AlrubaiaanCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-5631-0927
Ahmed Hisham AlmajedCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saif AlaghaCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Futun Abdulhadi AlsallomCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Latifah AlbrahimDepartment of Dermatology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Khalid Nabil NagshabandiDepartment of Dermatology, College of Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Lamia AlakrashDepartment of Dermatology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe nevus of Ota is an uncommon pigmentary skin condition that causes bluish-gray pigmentation and is traditionally treated with a Q-switched laser. Emerging evidence suggests that the 755-nanometer picosecond alexandrite laser is a safe and effective therapeutic option. We sought to determine the overall effectiveness and safety profile of the 755-nanometer (nm) picosecond alexandrite laser for managing nevus of Ota.

methodsWe reviewed 6 databases for studies that addressed the safety as well as efficacy profile of the 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser for nevus of Ota. Ten studies, including 558 individuals with nevus of Ota, were included. The main outcomes were the rate of excellent clinical response and reported side effects encompassing erythema as well as post-inflammatory pigmentary alterations, including both hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Review Manager Version 5.4 and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3 software were used for data analysis.

resultsThe pooled excellent clinical response rate for the 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser was found to be 36.8% (95% confidence interval [24.4-51.2%], P = .642). Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation were each observed in 20.6% and 12.2% of the cases (P-value < .001), respectively. Post-inflammatory erythema, assessed in 2 studies (n = 23), demonstrated a pooled prevalence of 45.2% (95% confidence interval: 12.9-82.2%).

conclusionThe 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser demonstrated moderate effectiveness and a favorable safety profile in the treatment of nevus of Ota. Pigmentary complications occurred at relatively low rates across the included studies. Further high-quality prospective and randomized controlled trials are required to confirm long-term effectiveness and safety.

Indexed as

Lasers, Solid-StateNevus of OtaSkin NeoplasmsHumansHypopigmentationTreatment Outcomelasersnevus of Otapicosecond laserspigmentary disorders

Identifiers

PMID41731817
PMCPMC12928873

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.