Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. Cryosurgery works by taking advantage of the destructive force of freezing temperatures on cells. At low temperatures, ice crystals form inside the cells, which can tear them apart. More damage occurs when blood vessels supplying the diseased tissue freeze.

Warts, moles, skin tags, solar keratosis, and small skin cancers are candidates for cryosurgical treatment. Several internal disorders are also treated with cryosurgery, including liver cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, oral cancers, cervical disorders and, more commonly in the past, hemorrhoids. Generally, all tumors that can be reached by the cryoprobes used during the operation. Although found to be effective, this method of treatment is only appropriate for use against localized disease, and solid tumors larger than 1 cm, not the tiny, diffuse metastases that often coincides with cancers.

Patients undergoing cryosurgery usually experience minor-to-moderate localized pain and redness, which can be alleviated by oral administration of an analgesic such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) and by topical anesthetic cream that can help to remedy the pain a patient suffers. Blisters may form, but these usually scab over and peel away within several days.