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Cryosurgery for Premalignant and Malignant Skin Conditions

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Dermatological Cryosurgery and Cryotherapy

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Abstract

Cryosurgery can be used to treat pre-malignant and malignant skin conditions. Actinic keratosis (AK) is a pre-malignant proliferation of keratinocytes manifesting as erythematous, scaly papules or plaques on sun-exposed skin. Two types of therapy are need for AK: lesion directed, to destroy individual AK and field, to destroy perilesional, microscopic changes. Lesion directed therapies include electrodessication and curettage, excision, and laser ablation. Field physical modalities include photodynamic therapy (PDT), peels, and laser resurfacing. Cryosurgery, a lesion directed therapy, is very successful and is one of the most commonly employed treatments for AK. Bowen’s disease presents as a well-defined, hyperkeratotic plaque; therapeutic options include PDT, curettage, topical 5-FU, excision, laser ablation, radiotherapy and cryosurgery. Malignant lesions treatable with cryosurgery include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Excision is the most commonly used therapy for them. Alternatives include electrodessication and curettage, radiation, PDT, topical 5-FU and imiquimod. Cryosurgery for BCC and SCC shows success rates that rival excision when performed by a trained physician.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Newark, NJ, USA

    Parmvir Singh MD

  2. Department of Dermatology, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA

    Rivka C. Stone MD, PhD

  3. Department of Dermatology, Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration, Newark, NJ, USA

    Robert A. Schwartz MD, MPH, DSc (Hon), FRCP (Edin)

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Giuseppe Micali MD

Authors
  1. Parmvir Singh MD
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  2. Rivka C. Stone MD, PhD
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  3. Robert A. Schwartz MD, MPH, DSc (Hon), FRCP (Edin)
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  4. Giuseppe Micali MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Micali MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Treatment & Research Center, Dallas, Texas, USA

    William Abramovits

  2. Eastern Dermatology and Pathology, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA

    Gloria Graham

  3. The Unit of Plastic Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Yaron Har-Shai

  4. St Anna Hospital, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Renata Strumia

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© 2016 Springer-Verlag London

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Singh, P., Stone, R.C., Schwartz, R.A., Micali, G. (2016). Cryosurgery for Premalignant and Malignant Skin Conditions. In: Abramovits, W., Graham, G., Har-Shai, Y., Strumia, R. (eds) Dermatological Cryosurgery and Cryotherapy. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6765-5_127

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6765-5_127

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6764-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6765-5

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