ARGON-LASER THERAPY OF BENIGN-TUMORS OF THE EYELID

PURPOSE: To report the therapy of benign eyelid tumors with an argon l aser as an alternative to surgery. METHODS: Forty-one patients with 47 benign tumors of the eyelid were included in this study. In all patie nts, the eyelid tumor was eliminated by argon laser. In 24 cases the l ower eyelid and in 23 cases the upper eyelid was involved, including t he lid margin in 17 cases. Laser spot size ranged from 150 to 500 mu m . Argon laser power density varied between 4.1 and 61.1 W/mm(2). Spots were counted between 40 and 1204. Twenty-seven of 41 patients treated were followed up; the mean follow-up period was 5.8 months (range, 3 to 24 months). Postoperatively, histologic confirmation was obtained i n 42 cases of the 47 treated tumors. RESULTS: All patients were satisf ied regarding the laser therapy and the cosmetic result. Remarkably, t he wounds were dry after argon laser therapy. No infections of the wou nds occurred; wounds were epithelialized after 2 to 3 weeks by a norma l-appearing epithelium. The area of argon laser treatment was less pig mented than the surrounding skin and showed no obvious remarkable notc hes. As a complication, one patient developed a viral conjunctivitis. No relapses occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Argon laser therap y of benign eyelid tumors may result in very satisfactory wound healin g. Taking the short follow-up and the limited number of cases into acc ount, it seems to be a useful alternative to traditional surgery, espe cially for tumors positioned close to the lacrimal papillae. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.