Treatment of multiple cutaneous leiomyomas with CO2 laser ablation

BACKGROUND. Cutaneous leiomyomas are benign tumors that can be exquisitely painful. Symptomatic lesions often necessitate treatment, but many options are inadequate or create substantial morbidity. Without a definitive therap y of first choice, the search continues for alternative methods to alleviat e discomfort in affected patients. OBJECTIVE. To describe the use of CO2 laser ablation for the symptomatic tr eatment of a 73-year-old woman with multiple cutaneous leiomyomas in whom p harmacologic therapy was contraindicated and surgical excision was impracti cal. METHODS. CO2 laser ablation of six symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas was per formed under local anesthesia. After initial success, all remaining symptom atic lesions were treated. RESULTS. There was complete pain relief in the originally treated lesions 9 months postoperatively, and in all remaining treated lesions 3 months post operatively. CONCLUSION. CO2 laser ablation may be an effective alternative treatment fo r symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas.