CO₂ laser treatment of actinic cheilitis. Comparison with surgical vermib'onectomy and evaluation of the technique

Abstract

Actinic cheilitis is a very frequent precancerous condition in the Mediterranean countries. Several treatments (5-fluorouracil, cryosurgery, dermabrasion, surgical vermil-ionectomy) have been used with inconclusive results. We report our results in 25 cases of actinic cheilitis treated with CO₂ laser vermilionectomy. This study was designed to compare the results of CO₂ laser vermilionectomy with those obtained in a former study in 54 patients treated by surgical vermilionectomy. We used CO₂ laser vaporization of the affected lip mucosa at a power level of 3–5 W. In the surgical vermilionectomy group we found that there were functional and cosmetic disorders and visible scar contraction, but in the CO₂ laser vermilionectomy group all patients showed excellent results, with no sequelae. None of the patients showed recurrences of the actinic cheilitis after 3 years of follow-up.

Key Words:

• Actinic cheilitis
• CO₂ laser
• Vermilionectomy