Management of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia by carbon dioxide laser

Thirty-three patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia were treated with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. In 31 of these patients the lesion was completely eradicated by the laser treatment. All patients experienced moderate pain following the procedure, and 2 had severe pain. The only other complications were 1 case of bleeding and 1 of infection. The CO2 laser appears to be an acceptable treatment modality for vulvar cancer precursors provided patients are carefully evaluated prior to treatment and invasive carcinoma is ruled out.