title: Long-term follow-up results of Nd: YAG laser treatment of premalignant and malignant (Stage I) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Only few studies (none from India) have reported the role of Neodymium Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Nd: YAG) laser for treatment of premalignant and stage I (T1N0M0) oral cancer. This study aimed to assess the outcome of Nd: YAG laser in the said lesions after a follow-up of 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study;
  
  
  METHODS
  a tertiary care hospital, North India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty biopsy proven patients of premalignant/malignant (Stage I) lesions oral cavity underwent Nd: YAG laser treatment after prior informed consent from January, 1997 to January, 2000. Patients were followed-up for 5 years. In addition to local recurrence, patient's mucosal response to laser in terms of pain, mastication, salivation, paraesthesias, facial expressions, and speech was also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven patients had leukoplakia, 3 erythroplakia, 6 carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 14 stage I squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of oral cavity. Four patients required repeat laserization for residual/ recurrent lesion and 15 patients were lost to follow-up. Recurrence free survival (RFS) at 5-years in premalignant and stage I SCC patients was 97.2 and 78.6%, respectively. A minimal persistent edema was observed in 6 (12%) patients at the end of 7th day, rest all tolerated the procedure well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that Nd: YAG laser is an effective and safe surgical option management of premalignant and malignant lesions of oral cavity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mallika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: Pramod
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Gautam Bir
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Hari S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors