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Cryosurgery - Overview

Overview

Alternative Names

Cryotherapy

Definition of Cryosurgery:

Cryosurgery is a method of superfreezing tissue in order to destroy it. The technique is used to treat tumors, control pain, and control bleeding.

Information:

The cold is introduced through a probe which has liquid nitrogen circulating through it. To destroy diseased tissue, the tissue is cooled to below -20 degrees Celsius. Other procedures that control pain or bleeding are cooled to a lesser degree to prevent tissue damage.

Cervical cryosurgery

Reviewed last on: 7/25/2007
Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.

Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2004.

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