[Lasers in dermatologic surgery]

The authors review their experiences with the use of carbon-dioxide (CO2) lasers in dermatological surgery in a group of 3000 patients, with a total number of 3920 tumorous skin lesions, during a three-year period. The word LASER is an acronym for L-ight A-mplification by S-timulated E-mission of R-adiation. It must be pointed out that it is electromagnetic radiation, not X-irradiation. In regard to the spectrum laser light is between infrared and ultraviolet light, mainly in the visible spectrum, so its application does not produce new generations of iatrogenic malignancies as in the case of ionizing radiation. The laser is a new scalpel which differs from the metal surgical scalpel (also called "optical knife" and "light scalpel"). In the conclusion authors state that using (CO2) complete success was achieved in treatment of the following skin lesions: common viral warts, senile keratosis, seborrhoeic keratosis, plantar viral warts, papillomas, capillary telangiectasias of the face, hemangiomas, juvenile viral warts of the face, ingrown nails, condyloma acuminata, pendular fibromas, xanthelasmas, atheromas, pyogenic granulomas, keratoacanthomas, tattooed skin and basocellular epitheliomas.