Laser vermilion ablation for actinic cheilitis.
A new surgical procedure employing a carbon dioxide laser for treating actinic cheilitis is described. Eight patients having biopsy-proven actinic cheilitis and one patient having clinically evident actinic cheilitis but biopsy-proven superficial basal cell carcinoma were treated by vermilion ablation using the carbon dioxide laser. After an average follow-up period of 34 months (27 to 38 months), no patient has had a recurrence of cheilitis. Normal contour of the treated lip has been preserved in all patients, while none has had significant post-treatment scarring.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors