Skin resurfacing with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is currently a popular means of improving rhytides and scars and has been reported useful in the treatment for photodamaged skin, including precancerous and benign skin lesions, as well as superficial benign pigmented lesions.
Methods:
We describe a 68-year-old man who developed rapid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the resurfaced areas 3 weeks following CO2 laser resurfacing.
Results:
Rapid occurrence of SCC should be considered a rare complication, and we recommend carefully considering CO2 laser resurfacing after excision of an SCC and surveying any cancer recurrences.
Conclusions:
We report a rare complication of CO2 laser resurfacing. This report suggests that additional work in this area is warranted.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
MasseyRAEliezriYD. A case report of laser resurfacing as a skin cancer prophylaxis. Dermatol Surg1999;25:513–6, doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08260.x.
2.
CarniolPJMeshkovLGrunebaumLD. Laser treatment of facial scars. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg2011;19:283–8, doi:10.1097/MOO.0b013e32834896b9.
3.
HorlockNGrobbelaarAOGaultDT. Can the carbon dioxide laser completely ablate basal cell carcinomas? A histological study. Br J Plast Surg2000;53:286–93, doi:10.1054/bjps.1999.3277.
4.
HumphreysTRMalhotraRScharfMJ. Treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in situ with a high-energy pulsed carbon dioxide laser. Arch Dermatol1998;134:1247–52, doi:10.1001/archderm.134.10.1247.
5.
IyerSFriedliABowesL. Full face laser resurfacing: Therapy and prophylaxis for actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancer. Lasers Surg Med2004;34:114–9, doi:10.1002/lsm.20012.
6.
Covadonga Martínez-GonzálezMdel PozoJParadelaS. Bowen's disease treated by carbon dioxide laser. A series of 44 patients. J Dermatolog Treat2008;19:293–9.
7.
KarrerSSzeimiesRMHohenleutnerU. Role of lasers and photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous malignancy. Am J Clin Dermatol2001;2:229–37, doi:10.2165/00128071-200102040-00004.
8.
StratigosAJTahanSDoverJS. Rapid development of nonmelanoma skin cancer after CO2 laser resurfacing. Arch Dermatol2002; 138:696–7, doi:10.1001/archderm.138.5.696.
9.
TrimasSJEllisDAMetzRD. The carbon dioxide laser: An alternative for the treatment of actinically damaged skin. Dermatol Surg1997;23:885–9, doi:10.1016/S1076-0512(97)00288-4.
10.
FultonJERahimiAAHeltonP. Disappointing results following resurfacing of facial skin with CO2 lasers for prophylaxis of keratoses and cancers. Dermatol Surg1999;25:729–32, doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.99035.x.
11.
HedelundLHaedersdalMEgekvistH. CO2 laser resurfacing and photocarcinogenesis: An experimental study. Lasers Surg Med2004;35:58–61, doi:10.1002/lsm.20067.
12.
de GruijlFRSterenborgHJForbesPD. Wavelength dependence of skin cancer induction by ultraviolet irradiation of albino hairless mice. Cancer Res1993;53:53–60.
13.
ParrishJAJaenickeKFAndersonRR. Erythema and melanogenesis action spectra of normal human skin. Photochem Photobiol1982;36:187–91, doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.1982.tb04362.x.
14.
TrevesNPackGT. The development of cancer in burns scars. Surg Gynecol Obstet1930;51:749–82.
15.
LawrenceEA. Carcinoma arising in the scars of thermal burns, with special reference to the influence of the age at burn on the length of the induction period. Surg Gynecol Obstet1952;95:579–88.
16.
KauvarANBWaldorfHAGeronemusRG. A histopathological comparison of “char-free” carbon dioxide lasers. Dermatol Surg1996;22:343–8, doi:10.1016/1076-0512(95)00585-4.
17.
MillerSJWeiZGWilsonC. Mouse skin is particularly susceptible to tumor initiation during early anagen of the hair cycle: Possible involvement of hair follicle stem cells. J Invest Dermatol1993;101:591–4, doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12366045.
18.
OwensDMWattFM. Contribution of stem cells and differentiated cells to epidermal tumours. Nat Rev Cancer2003;3:444–51, doi:10.1038/nrc1096.
19.
OrringerJSJohnsonTMKangS. Effect of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing on epidermal p53 immunostaining in photodamaged skin. Arch Dermatol2004;140:1073–7, doi:10.1001/archderm.140.9.1073.
