Treatment of Multiple Cutaneous Leiomyomas with CO2 Laser Ablation

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leiomyomas are benign tumors that can be exquisitely painful. Symptomatic lesions often necessitate treatment, but many options are inadequate or create substantial morbidity. Without a definitive therapy of first choice, the search continues for alternative methods to alleviate discomfort in affected patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of CO2 laser ablation for the symptomatic treatment of a 73-year-old woman with multiple cutaneous leiomyomas in whom pharmacologic therapy was contraindicated and surgical excision was impractical. METHODS: CO2 laser ablation of six symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas was performed under local anesthesia. After initial success, all remaining symptomatic lesions were treated. RESULTS: There was complete pain relief in the originally treated lesions 9 months postoperatively, and in all remaining treated lesions 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: CO2 laser ablation may be an effective alternative treatment for symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas.