A new loser treatment for vocal cord papilloma-585-nm pulsed dye

OBJECTIVES: Microvascular targeting with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) may provide a new form of therapy to control symptoms caused by recurrent r espiratory papillomatosis (RRP). METHODS: Ten patients with RRP underwent 13 procedures under general anesth esia with the 585-nm PDL. A micromanipulator (11 procedures) and a flexible nasolaryngoscope (2 procedures) were used to deliver the laser pulses. Pat ients were followed postoperatively according to protocol. RESULTS: Clinical examination revealed regression of papillomas in all pati ents. Seven patients had complete regression after PDL surgery, and 2 patie nts had partial response to treatment. One patient was lost to follow-up. N o complications were present during this prospective nonrandomized pilot st udy. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with PDL experienced regression of their papil lomas. PDL may provide patients with RRP with an alternative treatment with out the risks associated with CO2 laser surgery. This procedure also has po tential to be delivered on an outpatient basis with flexible fiberoptic lar yngoscopes.