CONDYLOMATA ACUMINATA - ROLES OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES OF LASER VAPORIZATION

Eighty-four women with acuminate warts of the external genital tract w ere treated with two methods of laser vaporization. Patients were clas sified by lesion number and volume (1+, 2+, 3+). Thirty-three patients had only the lesions vaporized, whereas 51 had individual lesions vap orized followed by the ''brushing'' technique applied to the surroundi ng mucosa. Postoperative discomfort and pain were worse in those patie nts who had the brushing technique. The results were assessed colposco pically six to eight weeks postoperatively. Regardless of the method o f laser vaporization, the majority of patients with extensive disease (2+ or 3+) had persistent lesions, although reduced in number in most instances. Patients with relatively few lesions (1+) had complete elim ination of the warts whether or not brushing was employed. Based upon this study, reducing the burden of acuminate warts before laser vapori zation is recommended.