The efficacy of facial skin cancer treatment with high-energy pulsed neodymium and Nd:YAG lasers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the curative and cosmetic efficacy of treatment for facial skin cancer using neodymium laser irradiation.


BACKGROUND
Due to the complex anatomy of the area, therapy for facial skin cancer is difficult.


METHODS
Laser irradiation was used for the treatment of 3461 patients with 3624 facial skin cancer lesions of stages T(1-2)N(0)M(0:) 3346 basal cell skin cancers, 188 limited basal cell skin cancer recurrences, and 90 squamous cell skin cancers. Pulsed neodymium (Nd) and Nd:YAG lasers were used as the energy sources. The patients were followed-up from 3 mo to 5 y or more.


RESULTS
Patients with basal cell skin cancer treated by irradiation with the Nd laser developed recurrences in 1.8% of cases, and patients treated with the Nd:YAG laser had a recurrence rate of 2.5%. Recurrences following treatment for basal cell skin cancer, and those of squamous cell skin cancer, after irradiation with the Nd laser appeared in 3.7% and 4.4% of patients, respectively. Overall, the frequency of facial skin cancer recurrences after treatment with laser irradiation was 2.1% of all the irradiated tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Neodymium laser irradiation is an effective method to treat facial skin cancer of stages T(1-2)N(0)M(0), and results in acceptable cosmetic results.
Moskalik
Konstantin
K
Laboratory of High Energies, The N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St. Petersburg, Russia. oncl1@rion.spb.ru
Kozlov
Alexander
A
Demin
Eugeny
E
Boiko
Ernest
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome