METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out for patients undergoing intra-oral CO2 laser surgery for newly presenting dysplastic leukoplakic or erythroplakic lesions or T1 SCCs. All cases were assessed and managed to a standard protocol, with multi-disciplinary team involvement, and operated on by the same clinician(PJT)at the MaxilloFacial Unit at Newcastle General Hospital between Jan 2000 and Dec 2004.
RESULTS: 159 patients (96 male,63 female ; age range 23 to 95yrs) presented with 197 oral lesions. 177 lesions were formally excised by laser, whilst 20 (predominantly alveolar or palatal lesions) were vapourised. 45% of lesions appeared on the floor of mouth and ventral tongue, whilst 23% affected the lateral tongue. 137 patients presented with single lesions, whilst 22 patients exhibited multiple lesions, either synchronously or metachronously.
CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of CO2 laser surgery in treating oral precancer and cancer will be confirmed by reviewing detailed clinical outcome data for all 159 cases. Recommendations for clinical use of the laser will be made.