RESUMO
To evaluate the efficacy of pulsed CO2 laser in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and actinic keratosis [AK], ten patients with superficial BCCs, eight patients with nodular BCCs and ten patients with AK were treated with pulsed CO2 laser and followed up for one year. A complete clinical cure with accepted cosmetic results was observed in all patients with superficial BCCs and AK. No recurrence was seen during one-year follow up. In contrast, only two cases of nodular BCCs showed clinical cure and no recurrence within the follow up period. The other six cases showed treatment failure and recurrence during the follow up period. It was concluded that pulsed CO2 laser can be an alternative therapeutic modality in superficial BCC and AK. On the other hand, pulsed CO2 laser can not be reliably recommended for nodular BCC