2nd Central European Oncology Congress, Optija, Croatia, 2000

CO2 laser for basal-cell cancer Velimir-Josef Novak EMH HNO, Hals- und Gesichtschirurgie, Stadthofstrasse 3, 6004 Luzern, Switzerland

Between 1995 and 2000,36 patients with an average age of 72 years underwent surgery for basal-cell cancer using a CO2laser. Thirty- five of those patients had either facial tumours or tumours jn the head and neck area, and one patient had a tumour in the regio sacralis. All patients concerned belong to a risk group with diverse cardiopulmonary problems. diabetes mellitus, thrombosis and embolia, which render anaesthesia difficult and reduce the chances of recovery. Furthermore. a large percentage off the patients had been using anticoagulants, beta blockers, insulin or various cardial medicatlon. The use of the C02 laser permitted us to reduce the general risks associated with surgery significantly and to avoid interruption off the anticoagulation and thrombocyte medication. Since this form of surgery does not necessitate hospitalisation, patients were able to return home just hours after treatment. Evaporation was done with a (02 laser at a level of 10 watts for 0.1 seconds, using the Silk. Touch technique. partly with continuous and partly with repetitive rays. The scar remained uncovered. Local abrasions were treated with Flamazine or Bepanthen salve for two weeks. The aesthetic results ofC02 laser surgery were very good. No complications were reported and no relapses have been registered up to this point. We concluded that evaporation with (02laser represents an ideal complementary method of removing tumours from both and oncological and aesthetic points of view.