Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of lower lip with carbon dioxide (CO2) laser

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents 95% of oral cavity cancers, including tongue and lips. In most cases, if this lesion is diagnosed in the initial stages, the treatment of choice is surgery under general anesthesia. This clinical study examined the efficacy of CO2 laser treatment of SCC of the lower lip in an ambulatory setting. In 10 patients, SCC of the lower lip was removed using CO2 laser radiation in continuous mode at 0.8 mm focus, 10 W, power density 2.5 W/cm2. Daily clinical evaluations were done until removal of the skin suture, then once a week for 1 month, and quarterly thereafter until the 5th year after surgery. The results showed that the CO2 laser is an extremely useful tool, providing a clean surgical field and complying with oncological principles. The functional and esthetic results were excellent.