Cryosurgery for the treatment of oral leukoplakia: Satisfying or not?

Abstract

Background: Oral leukoplakia is a common precancerous lesion that may transform into squamous cell carcinoma. Epidemiology reports available from studies conducted in different parts of India reveals the prevalence rate of leukoplakia from 0.2% to 8%. The malignant transformation rates of oral lesions are reported to be 1%–7% for homogenous thick leukoplakia, 4%–15% for granular or verruciform leukoplakia, and 18%–47% for erythroleukoplakia. Context: Although there are many treatment options ranging from the simple discontinuation of the tobacco habits in mild cases to more aggressive approaches like surgical excision to exceedingly sophisticated techniques such as laser surgery, and photodynamic therapy. Cryosurgery has also been implemented as an effective treatment for precancerous lesions of the oral cavity and has shown to have various advantages over the other procedures such as minimal/no pain, less swelling, no bleeding, simplicity, versatility, and low cost. Aims: To check whether cryosurgery can provide as good results as those obtained by today's latest and super sophisticated surgical modalities. Settings and Design: Experimental observational study. Materials and Methods: In this study, 25 lesions of different types of leukoplakia, in 19 patients were treated using closed type cryosurgical system. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: Complete regression was achieved in 22 (88%) lesions, 2 (8%) cases resulted in incomplete regression thus were retreated and complete regression. 1 (4%) subject did not report for follow up after the 7th postoperative day. Conclusions: In this study, results were found to be very promising but more research in this field is required as the sample size in this study was small.