Cryotherapy Health Article

Risks

Cryotherapy poses little risk and can be well tolerated by elderly and other patients who are not good candidates for other surgical procedures. As with other surgical procedures, there is some risk of scarring, infection, and damage to underlying skin and tissue. These risks are generally minimal in the hands of experienced users of cryotherapy.

Normal results

Some redness, swelling, blistering, and oozing of fluid are all common results of cryotherapy. Healing time can vary by the site treated and the cryotherapy technique used. When cryogen is applied directly to the growth, healing may occur in three weeks. Growths treated on the head and neck with the spray technique may take four to six weeks to heal; growths treated on other areas of the body may take considerably longer. Cryotherapy boasts high success rates in permanently removing skin growths; even for malignant lesions such as squamous cell and basal cell cancers, studies have shown a cure rate of up to 98%. For certain types of growths, such as some forms of warts, repeat treatments over several weeks are necessary to prevent the growth's return.

In the case of internal tumors, such as cancers of the prostate, cryotherapy has been shown to be at least as effective as other means, such as radiation therapy, with fewer side effects and faster recovery time.

Abnormal results

Although cryotherapy is a relatively low risk procedure, some side effects may occur as a result of the treatment. They include:

• Infection. Though uncommon, infection is more likely on the lower legs where healing can take several months.
• Pigmentary changes. Both hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) are possible after cryotherapy. Both generally last a few months, but can be longer lasting.
• Nerve damage. Though rare, damage to nerves is possible. Reports suggest this will disappear within several months.

Resources

BOOKS

Abeloff, Martin D., James O. Armitage, Allen S. Lichter, and John E. Niederhuber. Clinical Oncology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

PERIODICALS

Baust, John, et al. "Minimally Invasive Cryosurgery-Techno-logical Advances." Cryobiology 34 (1997): 373-384.

Fintor, Lou. "Cancer Cryosurgery Potentially "Hot" For Patients, New Markets." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 92 (September 2000): 1464-1466.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Academy of Dermatology. 930 N. Meacham Road, P.O. Box 4014, Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014. (847)330-0230. <http://www.aad.org>.

OTHER

National Cancer Institute. <http://cis.nci.nih.gov>.

Edward R. Rosick, D.O., M.P.H.