ISSN:
1435-604X
Keywords:
Kaposi's Sarcoma
;
AIDS
;
Laser surgery
;
Carbon dioxide laser
;
Otolaryngological manifestations
;
Upper aerodigestive tract
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
,
Physics
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) in the upper aerodigestive tract, although mainly asymptomatic, sometimes causes pain, bleeding or interferes with food intake and gas exchange. In trying to overcome some of the disadvantages of currently applied treatment modalities (i.e. surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy), the carbon dioxide laser was used to remove this vascular tumour in selected cases. Of the 16 patients treated, 12 did not develop recurrent disease at the treated site during follow-up (1 month to 1 year). In the four remaining patients, the intervention lead to a substantial reduction in symptoms. Post-operative morbidity was minimal except in two patients, one of whom developed an oro-antral fistula after extraction of teeth during the operation, the other developing osteomyelitis of the hard palate at the treated site. Both patients had been irradiated previously. Thus the carbon dioxide laser proved to be an effective tool for palliative treatment in selected cases of KS in the upper aerodigestive tract.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02150850
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