The efficacy of facial skin cancer treatment with high-energy pulsed neodymium and Nd:YAG lasers.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the curative and cosmetic efficacy of treatment for facial skin cancer using neodymium laser irradiation. Background Data: Due to the complex anatomy of the area, therapy for facial skin cancer is difficult. Materials and Methods: Laser irradiation was used for the treatment of 3461 patients with 3624 facial skin cancer lesions of stages T1–2N0M0: 3346 basal cell skin cancers, 188 limited basal cell skin cancer recurrences, and 90 squamous cell skin cancers. Pulsed neodymium (Nd) and Nd:YAG lasers were used as the energy sources. The patients were followed-up from 3 mo to 5 y or more. Results: Patients with basal cell skin cancer treated by irradiation with the Nd laser developed recurrences in 1.8% of cases, and patients treated with the Nd:YAG laser had a recurrence rate of 2.5%. Recurrences following treatment for basal cell skin cancer, and those of squamous cell skin cancer, after irradiation with the Nd laser appeared in 3.7% and 4.4% of patien...