The Present Status of Laser in Medicine

Abstract

In 1958 two physicists, Townes and Schawlow, conceived the idea of laser, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Since then, physicians have used it to control hemorrhage from retinal lesions in diabetics, to correct detached retinas, to obliterate tattoos and port-wine angiomas, and to treat a few selected tumors such as melanomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and lymphomas. Although it may have promise in ophthalmologic conditions, laser has had inconclusive results in the treatment of tumors.