Effectiveness and Safety of Ablative Er:YAG Laser Treatment of External Genital Warts

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of the use of ablative Er:YAG laser for removal of external genital warts (EGW), also called condylomata acuminata (CA).Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study performed at Gynecology Clinic Juna in Ljubljana, Slovenia. All patients older than 18 years that were clinically diagnosed with EGW and were treated with ablative Er:YAG laser between January 2012 and December 2017 were included in the study.Results: A total of 133 female patients (mean age 39.6 ± 12.9 years, range: 19–80) with EGW were eligible to be included in this study. EGW have been present from one to seven months, with a mean presence of 2.1 ± 2.0 months. The majority of the warts were on the labia, major some also on the mons pubis. The size of the lesions was 2–8 mm. The majority of patients, who completed therapy (74 patients out of 116; 64 %) received only one treatment and 82 % of the patients (n = 95) showed complete clearance of the lesions, without recurrence observed to date of analysis. Complete clearance was achieved after an average of 1.33 treatment sessions. Recurrence was reported by 21 patients (18 %). Recorded adverse effects of laser treatment were mild and transient.Conclusion: Er:YAG laser removal of EGW is a simple, quick and safe procedure, particularly suitable for large volume EGW or those that are located in anatomical sites difficult to access by other techniques.