Introduction. Lipomas are the most common benign soft tissue tumors, but their occurrence in the oral cavity is rarely recorded. They are generally asymptomatic and painless, very rarely giving recurrence. Microscopically cells resemble mature adipocytes, divided by connective tissue. Aim. Review of the CO2 laser treatment of lipomas. Material and methods. 43 patients were treated because of lipomas in 2011–2012, in the Department of Oral Surgery, Medical University of Lodz. This group consisted of 11 (25.6%) women and 32 (74.4%) men, whose age ranged from 45 to 68 years. The presence of lesions appearing as insolated, mobile, non-tender, subcutaneous or submucous masses measuring 1–3.5 cm in diameter, were found within: skin above buccal muscle – 4 (9.3%) cases, the forehead – 6 (13.95%) patients, lower lip – 11 (25, 6%), floor of the mouth – 8 (18.6%), the duct of parotid gland – 8 (18.6%), tongue – 4 (9.3%) and in the alveolar part of the mandible – the premolars and molars area – 2 (4.65%) cases. In local infliltration anaesthesia with 0,3 ml of 2% Lidocaine, the focused continuous laser beam of 3 W was used. The mucosa was incised and subsequently prepared. Afterwards the tumor was enucleated alongside the surrounding fibrous capsule. The material was sent for histopathological evaluation. Results. The results of histopathological examination confirmed the initial diagnosis of lipoma in 15 (34.9%) cases, whereas in 13 (30.2%) patients – fibrolipoma, in 10 (23.3%) – cutaneous lipoma, and in 5 (11.6%) cases angiolipoma. The follow up examination after 14 days showed that healing was uneventful, and after 12 and 24 months no signs or symptoms of recurrence developed. The functional and esthetical result was satisfactory.

Key words: lipomas, CO2 laser, benign tumor.