Condylomata acuminata. Roles of different techniques of laser vaporization.

Eighty-four women with acuminate warts of the external genital tract were treated with two methods of laser vaporization. Patients were classified by lesion number and volume (1+, 2+, 3+). Thirty-three patients had only the lesions vaporized, whereas 51 had individual lesions vaporized followed by the "brushing" technique applied to the surrounding mucosa. Postoperative discomfort and pain were worse in those patients who had the brushing technique. The results were assessed colposcopically six to eight weeks postoperatively. Regardless of the method of laser vaporization, the majority of patients with extensive disease (2+ or 3+) had persistent lesions, although reduced in number in most instances. Patients with relatively few lesions (1+) had complete elimination of the warts whether or not brushing was employed. Based upon this study, reducing the burden of acuminate warts before laser vaporization is recommended.