Surgical management of premalignant lesions of the oral cavity with the CO2 laser / Manejo cirúrgico de lesões prémalignas da cavidade oral com o laser de CO²

ABSTRACT

The management of patients with premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity can present problems. The potentially invasive nature of premalignant lesions together with their large extent influences the treatment. The common modalities of treatment of these lesions are surgical excision, cryotherapy, electrosurgery and radiotherapy. Recently, Carbon dioxide laser surgery has become available. Less pain, litle bleeding, minimal post-operative edema, reduced risk of infection, and low recurrence rates were advantages observed following Carbon dioxide laser surgery in the mouth when compared to other modalities of treatment. Healing following Carbon dioxide laser surgery progressed well with litle post-operative scarring and re-epithelization was complete after 4-6 weeks. The newly formed epithelium appeared normal and was soft on palpation