Abstract
Destruction of diseased tissue by cold temperature has been used in dermatology for many decades. Proposed primary advantages of cryosurgery in comparison to surgical excision include minimal morbidity, less damage of surrounding structures, ease of use, and lower cost. A potential secondary advantage is the induction of antitumoral response triggered by natural absorption of malignant tissue, which releases hidden tumoral epitopes after intracellular cryoinjury. Cryosurgery could be used to treat many benign and malignant skin conditions by three different techniques: spot freeze by Q-tip or spray, contact freeze by cryoprobes, or intralesional method. If performed properly, cryosurgery is a relatively safe and simple procedure with few contraindications and low complication rate. It provides good to excellent cosmesis, short duration, low cost, and high healing rate in difficult areas. It is also suitable for use with no general or local anesthesia in wide population of patients including older, nonoperable, or pregnant individuals.
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Further Reading
Andrews MD. Cryosurgery for common skin conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2004;69(10):2365–72.
Har-Shai Y, Sabo E, Rohde E, Hyams M, Assaf C, Zouboulis CC. Intralesional cryosurgery enhances the involution of recalcitrant auricular keloids: a new clinical approach supported by experimental studies. Wound Repair Regen. 2006;14:18–27.
Ismail M, Bokaee S, Davies J, Harrington KJ, Pandha H. Inhibition of the aquaporin 3 water channel increases the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to cryotherapy. Br J Cancer. 2009;100:1889–95.
Ismail M, Morgan R, Harrington KJ, Davies J, Pandha H. Immunoregulatory effects of freeze injured whole tumor cells on human dendritic cells using an in vitro cryotherapy model. Cryobiology. 2010;61:268–74.
Sabel MS. Cryo-immunology: a review of the literature and proposed mechanisms for stimulatory versus suppressive immune responses. Cryobiology. 2009;58:1–11.
Zimmerman EE, Crawford P. Cutaneous cryosurgery. Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(12):1118–24.
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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Krunic, A.L., Marini, L.G. (2015). Cryosurgery. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_114
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_114
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