Diode Laser in the Management of Leukoplakia - A Retrospective Study

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Dental Surgery
• Laser Technology

Background:

• Leukoplakia is a common potentially malignant oral disorder requiring effective management.
• Surgical options for leukoplakia include excision, electrocauterization, laser surgery, and cryosurgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of diode lasers in treating leukoplakia.
• To compare laser ablation and laser excision techniques for leukoplakia management.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 56 cases (77 leukoplakia sites) treated with diode laser between January 2018 and December 2020.
• Data collected included patient demographics, lesion characteristics, treatment type (ablation vs. excision), side effects, recurrences, and malignant transformation, with a minimum six-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Homogeneous leukoplakia was the most common type (48.1%).
• Recurrence occurred in 19.48% of cases, with higher rates for laser ablation and gingival lesions.
• No malignant transformation was observed in any cases.

Conclusions:

• Diode laser is an effective surgical treatment for leukoplakia, offering advantages like reduced pain and bleeding.
• Laser excision demonstrated superior efficacy over laser ablation, resulting in fewer recurrences.