title: CO2 laser in cancer surgery of the breast: a comparative clinical study.
abstract: Review of the literature reveals little to no data regarding the use of the CO2 laser as a surgical modality in the local treatment of breast cancer. This study was undertaken to determine if the CO2 laser is a surgical improvement over the scalpel, influencing patient care during the surgical and postsurgical period. In the author's series, a total of 209 procedures were performed. Within this group, 105 cases were performed with CO2 laser and 104 cases performed with the scalpel. Biopsies were always performed as a separate procedure prior to definitive surgery. This study was not designed to compare cure rates, the medical follow-up period being 1 year. The results of this study demonstrate a significant improvement in patients' postoperative care, surgical technique, and hospital cost-effectiveness.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide