Efficacy and safety of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation of flat colorectal adenomas

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation for the treatment of flat colorectal adenomas. From January 1982 to December 1994, 222 lesions were treated in 216 patients. Initial eradication was obtained in 96% of lesions with a diameter less than 1 cm, in 89% of lesions with a diameter between 1 and 4 cm, and in 64% of lesions with a diameter greater than 4 cm. According to the histology, a complete disappearance was obtained in 94% of tubular, in 89% of tubulovillous, and in 80% of villous adenomas. Adenomas with severe dysplasia or foci of invasive carcinoma were eradicated in 76% and in 75% of cases, respectively. During a median follow- up of 24 months (3 - 129 months), recurrences developed in 46 of the 186 initially cured lesions (25%). All recurrent lesions were submitted to Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation, obtaining eradication in 37/46 (80%) of the cases. Malignant degeneration occurred in 6% of lesions. Complications related to laser treatments were observed in 5% of patients.