[The use of CO2 laser in the treatment of leukoplakia of the oral cavity].

During the period from 1992 to 1996 in the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz 20 patients with leucoplakia of the oral cavity were hospitalized. The treatment with the CO2 laser was used. Depending on the kind of lesion single or continuous ray of the power 6-15 W were applied. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the kind of leucoplakia: patients with simple leucoplakia, patients with nodular leucoplakia, Patients with verrucous leucoplakia. According to the size of the leucoplakia area: lesions of 1 cm diameter, lesions of 2 cm diameter, lesions of over 2 cm diameter were differentiated. In the case of simple leucoplakia the laser ray of 5-6 W power was applied, in nodular leucoplakia 6-10 W, and in verrucous leucoplakia the power was 10-15 W. In this work the results of the 5 years observation are presented.