Carbon dioxide laser evaporation of leukoplakia of the lower lip: a retrospective evaluation

The purpose of this study was the retrospective evaluation of the treatment results of CO2 laser evaporation for 27 cases of leukoplakia of the lip. T he data were derived from 23 patients who presented with leukoplakia of the lower lip during the period 1978-96. Four patients developed a second prim ary leukoplakia of the lip resulting in 27 cases of leukoplakia. All lesion s were treated with a CO2 laser equipped with an operation microscope and m icromanipulator. Short-term evaluation showed complete epithelialisation 4 weeks after CO2 laser evaporation; there was minimal scar formation and no subsequent interference with normal lip function. During long-term evaluati on, four recurrences (14.8%) were diagnosed which developed between 5 and 3 1 months after treatment; these were retreated with CO2 laser evaporation. There was no development of squamous cell carcinoma in the CO2 laser-treate d area. Selective removal of affected epithelium with minimal damage to sur rounding structures is possible using CO2 laser evaporation, followed by ex cellent wound healing and good functional result. Treatment can be performe d under local anaesthesia on an outpatient basis. The recurrence rate is lo w compared with the recurrence rate after surgical excision. Therefore, CO2 laser evaporation is considered a reliable and effective treatment modalit y for leukoplakia of the lip. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.