Table 4 Characteristics of included studies on CO2 laser ablation

Genangeli, 2019 [18]

Experimental study

N/A

N/A

Different tissues, non-human

Mass spectrometry of air sample obtained using CO2 laser on different tissues

CO2 lasers can generate aerosols with detectable molecular profiles for all tissues tested

Direct

Kashima, 1991 [20]

Descriptive, cross sectional study

N/A

22

Patients with recurrent respiratory laryngeal papillomatosis

PCR of air samples for HPV DNA

1. 17/30 vapor samples were positive for HPV. 14 paired tissue and vapor samples revealed the same HPV type.

2. HPV-DNA in the vapor can be of concern to the operating team.

Direct

Garden, 1988 [21]

Descriptive, cross sectional study

N/A

7

Patients with plantar or mosaic verrucae

Electrophoresis and visualization of HPV DNA in air samples

1. Intact human papillomavirus DNA was present in the vapor for two of the seven patients.

2. Viral DNA can be released during the laser treatment for verrucae, even with clinically relevant laser parameter settings.

Direct

Sawchuk, 1989 [22]

Experimental study

N/A

8

Human plantar warts

Dot-blot analysis of HPV DNA in air samples

Five of eight laser-derived vapors were positive for HPV DNA.

Direct

Gloster, 1995 [23]

Case control study

4

31/6124

CO2 laser surgeons and patients with warts

Incidence of HPV lesions in CO2 laser surgeons

The overall incidence of acquired HPV warts, was not significantly different from the incidence of control patients. However, the incidence of nasopharyngeal warts was higher in CO2 laser surgeons (13%) compared to the control population (0.6%).

Indirect