Cryosurgical treatment of hemangiomas of the lip

Removal of hemangiomas presents difficult management problems. This article describes the treatment of hemangiomas of the lip by cryosurgery and, in particular, evaluates the effectiveness of freezing in nitrous oxide cryosurgery on these lesions. Four women and two men, ages 40 to 76 years and manifesting angiomatous lesions on the vermillion of the lower or upper lips, were treated. Each site was directly exposed to two consecutive freeze-thaw cycles of 40 seconds freezing time at -30 degrees C to -40 degrees C. No anesthesia was required. Healing was uneventful. Superficial necrotic tissue covered the lesion at 1 week and necrotic slough was separated after 2 to 4 weeks, leaving a fully epithelialized surface. In all cases, there was no scarring and no recurrence was noted during the 2.5 year follow-up.