LASER SURGERY FOR MALIGNANT MELANOMA AND SUPERFICIAL MALIGNANCIES

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Abstract
This study describes 18 months' experience with the CO2 laser in the treatment of malignant melanoma and other superficial malignancies. In 110 patients, a general assessment was made of the advantages commonly claimed for the laser. In addition, a comparison between laser and scalpel surgery was made by means of a small retrospective study. Results from 39 patients undergoing wide excision and graft for primary malignant melanoma in association with axillary lymph node dissection indicated that the laser offered no specific advantages over the scalpel for this particular type of operation. The laser was shown to have specific advantages in the treatment of extensive superficial malignancy, in locally recurrent tumours, and in malignancy of soft tissues. In these situations it did minimize blood loss and achieve satisfactory extirpation of the lesion.