« Back to Treatment of Skin Disorders

Cryosurgery

»	What is cryosurgery?
»	How does cryosurgery cause injury?
»	Which agents are used for cryosurgery?
»	Do you need a lot of expensive equipment to use cryosurgery?
»	What types of skin conditions can be treated with cryosurgery?
»	How is cryosurgery performed?
»	How are benign skin lesions treated?
»	How do you treat malignant lesions?
»	Is cryosurgery a preferred method for the treatment of cutaneous malignancy?
»	What are the cure rates of cryosurgery for malignant lesions?
»	Are there contraindications to cryosurgery?
»	For which patients is cryosurgery better than other methods?
»	What are the complications of cryosurgery?

Do you need a lot of expensive equipment to use cryosurgery?

A handheld cryotherapy unit is being used to spray actinic keratoses with liquid nitrogen. Note the cutaneous ice ball that forms in the treated areas.

Fig. 52.1 A handheld cryotherapy unit is being used to spray actinic keratoses with liquid nitrogen. Note the cutaneous ice ball that forms in the treated areas.

No. Compared to other surgical techniques, the amount of equipment needed is modest. First, you need a reservoir for the liquid nitrogen. This is normally a 20- to 30-liter thermos (Dewar flask). From here, the liquid nitrogen (LN₂) is transferred to smaller containers. For basic cryosurgery, most dermatologists use small, handheld thermoses that spray the LN₂ directly on the skin (Fig. 52-1). There are also various probes, neoprene cones, and thermocouple-pyrometer systems to treat malignant lesions.

Jackson A, Colver G, Dawber R: Cutaneous cryosurgery: principles and clinical practice, ed 3, New York, 2005, Taylor & Francis.