Cryogun cryotherapy for oral leukoplakia.

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 <55 μm 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.