title: CO2 laser surgery of oral premalignant lesions.
abstract: Experiences gained in the CO2 laser treatment of patients with oral dysplastic precancerous lesions are presented. Besides 7 lichens planus, 50 leukoplakias of all grades of dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ and one lentigo maligna were removed superficially with a defocused laser. Within the average follow-up period of 37 months, 22% local recurrences were observed. In comparison with conservative drug therapy, conventional surgical procedures, and cryosurgical therapy, the CO2 laser treatment of multicentric premalignant diseases of the oral mucosa can be recommended as an alternative therapy.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Horch
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007911:Lentigo / Q000601:surgery; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000601:surgery*; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000601:surgery*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide