Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is a type of surgery that involves the use of extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissues. The surgery most often involves the use of liquid nitrogen, although carbon dioxide and argon may also be used.

Procedure

During cryosurgery, a cryoprobe (a thin wand-like device) is inserted into the body. The device is then cooled with substances like liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide, or compressed argon gas. This extreme cold helps to freeze and destroy any abnormal tissues.

Uses

Cryosurgery is used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders, most especially skin conditions like warts, moles, skin tags, and solar keratoses. Internally, it can be used to treat cancers, such as prostate cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer. It can also be used to treat retinoblastoma, a childhood cancer of the retina.

Benefits and Risks

The benefits of cryosurgery include less pain, less bleeding, quicker recovery, and less scarring. Because it is less invasive, it is often used for patients who are not good candidates for traditional surgery. However, there are risks associated with cryosurgery, including infection, damage to nearby healthy tissue or vessels, and long-term tingling or numbness.

See Also

• Surgery
• Prostate cancer
• Liver cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Retinoblastoma

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