The clinical superiority of continuous exposure versus short-pulsed carbondioxide laser exposures for the treatment of pearly penile papules

Treatment of pearly penile papules was performed both with a conventional c ontinuous-wave (CW) and a newer generation high energy pulsed carbon dioxid e laser. When compared to the short pulsed laser, the CW laser, using relat ively low power densities, provided superior hemostasis and improved visual ization of the operative field. Despite the increase in thermal injury, wou nd healing was not compromised. The results of this case report support the CO2 laser in CW mode as the infrared laser treatment of choice for exophyt ic lesions with increased vascularity.