Abstract
Objective: High-energy lasers are used as an alternative to surgical treatment of potentially malignant disorders in the oral cavity. The present article aims to make a prospective randomised comparative clinical assessment of the effect of laser surgery and conventional surgery in the treatment of oral leukoplakia (OL). Materials and methods: In the study were included 89 patients with histologically confirmed oral leukoplakia lesions. Laser excision of the lesions using Er YAG laser was performed in 36 of the patients, while standard surgical excision was used in 53 of the cases. Following clinical assessment comparing the two treatment methods was conducted based on: pain, wound healing, infection and recurrence of the lesions. Results: A statistically significant difference between two groups according pain in the postoperative period was found. Patients treated with laser ablation experienced far less pain than those treated with surgical excision. The healing time was significantly faster in the group treated with Er YAG laser, and regarding the occurrence of postoperative infections, the results of the two methods did not differ significantly. Recurrence was observed earlier in the group treated with laser ablation, but the levels align over a longer period of time. Conclusion: Er YAG laser ablation is a contemporary method for the treatment of oral leukoplakia without dysplasia, providing similar success, compared to conventional surgical excision, with less postoperative discomfort for the patients. Keywords Er YAG laser; Leukoplakia; Potentially malignant disorders.
Highlights
Malignant oral disorders have rising tendency and the main reason for that are a number of exogenic and endogenic pathologic factors
The specific causative factors of leukoplakia are still unknown; it is known that smoking/chewing tobacco as well as the alcohol abuse that would act synergistically with tobacco, trauma, electrogalvanic reactions, UV radiation, infestations as candidiasis, syphilis and human papillomavirus (HPV) are closely linked to the progression of leukoplakia [4,5,6,7]
70% of oral leukoplakia lesions are found on the buccal mucosa, vermilion border of the lower lip, and on gingiva [6,7,8]
Summary
Malignant oral disorders have rising tendency and the main reason for that are a number of exogenic and endogenic pathologic factors. The World Health Organization has defined PMSD as clinical presentations that carry a risk of developing oral cancer, a clinically defined precursor lesion or clinically normal oral mucosa [3]. According WHO the most common PMODs with the highest potential for malignant transformation are leukoplakia, erythroplasia, oral lichen planus, actinic cheilitis and oral submucous fibrosis [1,2,3]. Oral leukoplakia is the most common PMOD, presenting a prevalence of 1% and an annual malignant transformation risk of 2%. It affects men and women, rarely occurs in the first two decades of life. 70% of oral leukoplakia lesions are found on the buccal mucosa, vermilion border of the lower lip, and on gingiva [6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
