Possibility of Laser Scalpel-Vaporization-Treatment of Small Skin Tumors using CO₂ Laser

Abstract

Since 1977 CO₂ Laser had been used mainly in plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery and dermatology in Japan. Initially, it was used for laser scalpel (non-contact scalpel) instead of scalpel (cold knife), but recently the ability of vaporization is valued. We treated small some benign skin tumors such as nevus cell nevus, verruca vulgaris, angioma, seborrheic keratosis, etc. using vaporization. We achieved good results compared to the conventional therapy such as surgical excision, cryosurgery, skin abrasion etc. These results depended on not only surgeon's techniques but on histological features of each tumor. So we thought indication of CO₂ laser vaporization was determined by histological findings. Tumors seated not only epidermis and/or super facial dermis but from the mid to the lower dermis had possibility of recurrence after incomplete irradiation and of scar formation after too much irradiation, so we had not better to apply such conditions. In verruca vulgaris, some of them were not effective by only vaporization, so we combined vaporization and laser scalpel for such cases. In order to get better results, it is necessary to appreciate histological characteristics of each skin tumors.