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Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. Cryosurgery is used to treat a number of diseases and disorders, especially skin conditions.

Warts, moles, skin tags, solar keratoses, and small skin cancersare candidates for cryosurgical treatment. Some internal disordersare also treated with cryosurgery, including liver cancer, prostate cancer, and cervicaldisorders. Although found to be effective, this method of treatment is only appropriate for use against localized diseases with no metastasis.

Cryosurgery works by taking advantage of the destructive force of freezing temperatures on cells. At low temperatures, ice crystalsform inside the cells, which can tear them apart. More damage occurs when blood vesselssupplying the diseased tissue freeze.

The most-common method is using liquid nitrogenas the cooling solution. The super-cooled liquid may be sprayed on the diseased tissue, circulated through a tube called a cryoprobe, or simply dabbed on with a cotton swab. Less frequently, doctors use liquid carbon dioxidemixed with acetoneto form a slushy solution which is applied directly to the skin.

Cryosurgery is a minimally invasiveprocedure, and is often preferred to more traditional kinds of surgery because of its minimal pain, scarring, and cost; however, as with any medical treatment, there are risks involved, primarily that of damage to nearby healthy tissue. Damage to nerve tissueis of particular concern.

Patients undergoing cryosurgery usually experience minor-to-moderate localized pain and redness, which can be alleviated by oral administration of a analgesic(such as acetylsalicylic acidor ibuprofen) and application of topical steroidcream. Blistersmay form, but these usually scab over and peel away.

Etymology

Cryosurgery comes from the Greek cryo (????) meaning cold and the word surgery (cheirourgiki - ???????????) meaning literally hand work.

Cryosurgery

Etymology

See also