TREATMENT OF MUCOCELE USING THE $CO_2$ LASER : CASE REPORT

$CO_2$ Laser를 이용한 점액종의 치료

A mucocele is a thin-walled, bluish, fluctuant swelling occurring just beneath the oral mucosa and filled with mucoid material. It usually results from damage to a salivary gland following which there is extravasation of mucus into the tissues, or occasionally it forms from dilatation of the duct of a salivary gland. The accepted treatment of a mucocele is excision of the sac and the associated minor salivary gland. Use of the $CO_2$ laser in oral surgery has several advantages. It is a very precise means of cutting tissue and causes little adjacent nontarget tissue damage. There is excellent coagulation of small blood vessels and consequently operative hemorrhage is greatly decreased. There is instant sterilization of the operative site, which decreases bacteremia. The operation sites were completely healed without any infection or complication and discomfort from swelling or pain was not noted in all cases throughout the healing process. In addition, following this therapy, there is little contraction or scarring.

점액종은 점액소를 함유한 낭종으로서, 인접 조직으로 선분비물이 유출되거나 소타액선관이 폐쇄되어서 형성된다. 다른 질환과의 감별진단 후 완전히 낭종을 제거해야만 완전 치유가 이루어지며, 절개 배농이나 흡입은 단지 일시적인 방법일 뿐 반드시 재발한다. $CO_2$ Laser를 이용한 구강영역에서의 치료 시 장점으로는 우수한 지혈효과, 우수한 시야확보, 인접조직 손상의 최소화 뿐만 아니라, 작은 혈관과 림프관을 봉쇄하는 능력이 있어 창상치유시 나타나는 염증과정의 초기 증상들을 차단하기 때문에 술후 감염 감소, 술 후 종창 및 동통 감소 등이 나타나며, 반흔조직 및 창상수축의 감소 등이 있다.