The CO2 laser in surgery of vascular tumors of the oral cavity in children.

The three cases of children treated for excision of oral hemangiomas presented here illustrate the advantages of using the CO2 laser rather than a scalpel in surgery for vascular lesions of the oral cavity. This laser has the ability to coagulate, vaporize, or cut; its main advantage, however, is its ability to seal blood vessels during surgery. Satisfactory healing in infants and children makes the CO2 laser the preferred method for performing vascular surgery.