Cryosurgery in dermatologic office practice: special reference to dermatofibroma and mucous cyst of the lip

The use of liquid nitrogen therapy by spray, probe, and direct application in benign skin conditions is described. Most dermatofibromas do not require treatment, but for various reasons some are objectionable to the patient. Forty-five dermatofibromas were treated by cryospray, with five receiving a second treatment. Diagnosis was made clinically and confirmed in ten cases by shave biopsy of the elevated portion of the fibroma immediately after thawing. In all cases the resulting scar was minimal but sometimes hypopigmented. There was one depressed scar but no hypertrophic scars. Four mucous cysts of the lip were treated successfully by the cryoprobe without any visible or palpable scar. There was one recurrence. We know of no previous reports of cryosurgical treatment of mucous cysts of the lip.