Argon laser treatment of small keratoacanthomas in difficult locations

Seventeen patients (mean age, 64.7 years) with solitary keratoacanthomas (KA) located on the face and auricles were treated with the argon laser. All lesions were less than 10 mm in diameter and had been present for 2-10 weeks (mean, 3.8 weeks). The diagnosis was made clinically and was confirmed by histology. The lesions were treated with the argon laser using the continuous exposure technique with a power setting of 4.5 watts (W) and a beam diameter of 1 mm. Complete re-epithelialization occurred within 14-21 days. Excellent treatment results were achieved in 65% of the patients. Thirty-five percent healed with mild scarring. During a follow-up period of 2 years no recurrences were noted. The use of the argon laser for removal of small KAs in difficult locations, which would often require invasive surgery, appears to be an effective additional treatment modality.