title: Is carbon dioxide laser treatment of lichen sclerosus effective in the long run?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term results after carbon dioxide laser treatment of lichen sclerosus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 62 consecutive patients with histologically verified lichen sclerosus admitted between 1985 and 1991. All patients were treated with a carbon dioxide laser with an output of 15-20 W and a defocused beam. This treatment vaporized the macroscopically altered area of the glans penis. Phimosis and superficial meatal stenosis were treated at the same session. Fifty-three men were still alive in 2004, and we were able to contact 50 of them (94%). The patients were asked about recurrence of symptoms, any visible penile lesion and recurrence of meatal stenosis. All patients who reported symptoms were invited to visit the outpatient clinic for further examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up time was 14 years. At follow-up, 40 patients (80%) had no local symptoms and no visible lesion. Ten patients had minor symptoms but only two required further treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term follow-up of carbon dioxide laser treatment of lichen sclerosus shows that the treatment is safe and gives good results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. torgny.windhal@oreboll.se
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Windahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide