title: Recalcitrant periungual verrucae: the role of carbon dioxide laser vaporization.
abstract: Recalcitrant periungual verrucae (24 lesions) in 17 patients were vaporized with the carbon dioxide laser. The lesions had been present for 1 to 15 years and treated an average of nine times previously. Vaporization of these warts, in combination with partial or complete nail avulsion, resulted in complete cures in 71% of patients who had one or two treatments. The cure rate was 94% when the patients who had clearing after one or two laser treatments in combination with other therapies are included. Further follow-up indicates that infection and significant onychodystrophy are uncommon. Pain occurs, but in most cases it is short lived and manageable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Roenigk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014860:Warts / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide