title: Treatment of mucocele of the lower lip with carbon dioxide laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this report was to evaluate the outcome and complications of the treatment of numerous patients with mucoceles of lower lip by means of CO(2) laser vaporization.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 82 patients with biopsy-confirmed mucocele of the lower lip who were treated with CO(2) laser vaporization from January 1999 to December 2003; the data on recurrence and complications were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a recurrence in 2 cases. Complications were rare, except for mild discomfort. One patient felt temporary numbness at the operative site. There was no bleeding and minimal scar formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CO(2) laser vaporization to treat the mucocele of the lower lip is effective and has few complications. Because the operative time is shorter than with the excisional method, it is especially good for children and for less cooperative patients with this lesion.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chon Ho-Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: I-Yueh
authors: IY
authors: Huang
authors: Chun-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Chen
authors: Yu-Hsun
authors: YH
authors: Kao
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Worthington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009078:Mucocele / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide