CLINICAL ADVANTAGE OF THE CO2-LASER SUPERPULSED MODE - TREATMENT OF VERRUCA-VULGARIS, SEBORRHEIC KERATOSES, LENTIGINES, AND ACTINIC CHEILITIS

BACKGROUND. Unintended thermal damage occurring during surgery with th e CO2 laser limits its usefulness because of slow healing and increase d scarring. The superpulsed mode was developed to address this problem , but little clinical data exist to evaluate its effectiveness. OBJECT IVE. Patients having warts of the hands and feet, seborrheic keratoses , lentigines, and actinic cheilitis were treated by three experienced laser surgeons using both the conventional continuous mode CO2 laser a nd a superpulsed CO2 laser. Effectiveness of therapy, healing time, an d rates of scarring were compared for the two groups of patients. METH ODs. Charts of patients treated in 1988 and 1989 were reviewed and dat a recorded regarding surgical parameters, healing time, scarring, and effectiveness of therapy. Patients were placed in a diagnosis category with each laser only if there was a corresponding patient treated by the same physician using the other laser. CONCLUSION. The superpulsed mode was found to convey only a slight advantage. The use of a 50-mill isecond pulse was even more advantageous. The superpulse parameters ar e analyzed and ideal parameters to prevent unwanted thermal damage are suggested.