USE OF THE LASER IN THE ORAL CAVITY

Literature on head and neck oncology continues to support the use of l asers in surgery of malignant and premalignant lesions of the oral cav ity. This article explores the indications, techniques, results, and c omplications of laser use for surgery involving these lesions. Highlig hted is the carbon dioxide laser, which is well suited for transoral r esections of premalignant lesions and early carcinomas in the oral cav ity. In this study the local control, the 5-year survival rates, and t he postoperative function with the carbon dioxide laser are at least c omparable with those obtained using other surgical methods. The neodym ium:ttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, which has specific advantages in the treatment of large vascular malformations of the oral cavity because of its unique characteristics, is also discussed.