Methods: A retropective review of patients attending the Maxillofacial Dysplasia Clinic at Newcastle General Hospital with new, single oral premalignant lesions over a 5 year period (2004-2008) was carried out. Patients underwent CO2 laser excision of lesions confirmed to be dysplastic by pre-operative incisional biopsy.
Results: 169 patients underwent laser excisions with 15 (9 male, 6 female ; age range 49-77 years) exhibiting occult invasive carcinoma in excision specimens (9%). In all cases invasive carcinomas were completely excised at the time of laser. The clinico-pathological features of these patients and their clinical outcomes will be reviewed in detail.
Conclusions: CO2 laser excision is not only an effective precancer treatment, but facilitates early diagnosis and defintive management of oral carcinoma at stage when it is clinically undetectable.
1. Hamadah O, Thomson P J (2009) Lasers in Surgery & Medicine 41 : 17