Cryotherapy vs Laser for Genital Warts Management: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The study compared cryotherapy and laser in managing external genital warts (EGW) using various databases. The research involved eleven studies with 92 patients, with follow-up durations ranging from 28 days to 39 months. One study found that CO2 laser therapy was two times more effective than cryotherapy in terms of clearance, recurrence, and complication rates. Six studies showed that laser was the best option for immunocompromised patients and those who did not respond to cryotherapy, with the lowest recurrence rates and complications. Cryotherapy is economical, effective, and safe, but it is painful, deformed, and requires multiple sessions. Current treatment approaches focus on the surface wart rather than the underlying viral infection, making them less successful in long-term effects. There is little evidence to support the idea that a specific therapy is not more successful than others. Future research should focus on extensive comparisons with larger sample sizes.