title: Treatment of genital lesions with diode laser vaporization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are the most common sexually transmitted disease leading to anogential lesions. Although the laser therapy has been shown to be effective in a number of conditions, the use of laser diode vaporization in urological applications and the understanding on its effectiveness as a treatment for various urological conditions is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser vaporization as a treatment for genital lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting with genital lesions at the urology outpatient clinic at Coronel Mota Hospital, between March 2008 and October 2014, were enrolled into the study. Data collected included age, gender, duration of the lesion, site of the lesion and numbers of the lesions, length of follow-up, recurrence of lesions after treatment and whether there were any complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 92 patients were enrolled in the study; 92.4% (n = 85) male; mean age (± SD) 27.92 ± 8.272 years. The patients presented with a total of 296 lesions, with a median of 3 lesions each, including penis (n = 78), urethra (n = 4) lesions, and scrotum (n = 2) lesions. Lesions ranged in size from 0.1 to 0.5 cm(2), most commonly 0.3 cm(2) (n = 38; 41.3%), 0.4 cm(2) (n = 21; 22.8%) or 0.5 cm(2) (n = 20; 21.7%). Patients most commonly reported that they had their lesions for a duration of 12 (n = 29; 31.5%) or 6 months (n = 23; 25.0%). Eighteen patients (19.6%) had a recurrence after their 1(st)/conventional treatment. There were no incidences of post-operative infection or complications from the laser diode vaporization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser diode vaporization can be considered as an alternative method for treating genital lesions in urology, with satisfactory results in terms of pain, aesthetic and minimal recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Coronel Mota Hospital, Rua Levindo Inácio de Oliveira, 1547, Paraviana, Boa Vista, RR, CEP: 69307-272, Brazil. mmljr@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Mário Maciel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Coronel Mota Hospital, Rua Levindo Inácio de Oliveira, 1547, Paraviana, Boa Vista, RR, CEP: 69307-272, Brazil. delimanaizete@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mário Maciel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Center, Federal University of Roraima (CBio/UFRR), Boa Vista, Brazil. fabi.granja@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult