Cryogun cryotherapy for oral leukoplakia.
Head Neck. 2012 Sep ;34(9):1306-11. Epub 2011 Nov 15. PMID: 22084001
Hung-Pin Lin
BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed that cotton-swab cryotherapy is an alternative treatment modality for oral leukoplakia.
METHODS: This study used liquid nitrogen spray with a cryogun (cryogun cryotherapy) to treat 60 oral leukoplakia lesions.
RESULTS: Complete regression was achieved in all 60 oral leukoplakia lesions after cryogun cryotherapy. We found that 60 oral leukoplakia lesions treated with cryogen cryotherapy needed significantly fewer mean treatments (3.1± 1.3) to achieve complete regression than 60 previously reported oral leukoplakia lesions treated with cotton-swab cryotherapy (mean, 6.3 ± 3.8 treatments). Oral leukoplakia lesions on oral mucosal sites other than the tongue,<2 cm(2) , with epithelial dysplasia, or with a surface keratin thickness<55μm required significantly fewer cryogun cryotherapy treatments to achieve complete regression.
CONCLUSIONS: For treatment of oral leukoplakia, the cryogun cryotherapy needed fewer mean treatments to achieve complete regression of the lesions than the cotton-swab cryotherapy.