Recurrence rate of oral squamous cell papilloma after excision with surgical scalpel or laser therapy: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to describe the recurrence rates of Oral Squamous Cell Papilloma (OSCP) following surgical treatment with surgical scalpel and two different lasers (CO2 or Er,Cr;YSGG) and to determine the clinical and histopathologic features of these lesions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study covering a period of 12 years (1997-2009) that included patients diagnosed of OSCP treated with surgical excision was performed. Data was processed using SPSS 22.0 (SPPS Inc. Chicago, USA) and a descriptive and bivariate analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 37 histopathologically confirmed OSCP in 36 patients, 19 women (52.7%) and 17 men (47.2%) with an average age of 33.4 years (14-86 years) were included. Twenty-two cases were treated by excision with surgical scalpel excision, 11 with CO2 laser and 3 with Er,Cr:YSGG laser. The mean age was 35.4 years (14-86 years) and the distribution by gender was 19 women (52.7%) and 17 men (47.2%). The most common locations were the palate in 14 cases (37.8%), followed by the tongue in 11 cases (29.7%) and gingiva with 5 cases (13.5%). The average size of the lesions was 4.25 mm in diameter, with a mean evolution time of 5.9 months. The recurrence rate was slightly higher with the CO2 laser (14.3 %) in comparison with the conventional scalpel (10%). No recurrences for Er,Cr:YSGG were found.

CONCLUSIONS

No differences for recurrence rates for OSCP between groups were found. The recurrence rate is low, happening usually before 15 months of follow-up. OSCPs are lesions usually appearing in patients between 30 and 50 years of both genders and located predominantly on the palate, tongue and gingiva.