COMPARISON OF 5-FLUOROURACIL AND CO2-LASER FOR TREATMENT OF VAGINAL CONDYLOMATA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (6) , 773-778
Abstract
Seventy nonpregnant women with extensive condylomata of the vagina were treated either with intravaginal 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cream or the CO2 laser. Treatment results were correlated with the morphologic type of condylomata, i.e., papillary acuminata (58 patients), and flat condylomata (12 patients). Ten and 31% of women with Condyloma acuminata had persistent disease within 9 mo. after a single course of 5-FU and laser therapy, respectively. Total failure rates after a 2nd either 5-FU or laser treatment were 3.4%. The failure rates for flat condylomata were 50 and 16.6% after 5-FU and laser treatment, respectively. Recurrences, defined as the development of new disease after a 9 mo. disease-free period were 7.4 and 10% for C. acuminata after 5-FU and laser therapy, respectively. Twenty-five and 20% of women with flat condylomata treated, respectively, with 5-FU and the laser had recurrent disease. Acute urethrovulvar vaginitis occurred in 12.2% of the 5-FU-treated group, whereas complications were absent in those treated with the laser. Although the number of patients in each treatment arm was small and the patients were not randomized, intravaginal 5-FU therapy with protection of the vulva seems more cost effective for C. acuminata in nonpregnant women than the laser, which requires general anesthesia. Flat condylomata are best managed by laser therapy. Refractory lesions successfully respond to laser-5-FU combination therapy.

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