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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Cooling or Warming the Esophagus to Reduce Esophageal Injury During Left Atrial Ablation in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: March 15, 2020
Cryotherapy in the management of esophageal dysplasia and malignancy
Kevin D Halsey1, Bruce D Greenwald
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD 21201-1595, USA.
Abstract:
Accumulating evidence highlights the promising results seen with endoscopic spray cryotherapy in the treatment of dysplasia associated with Barrett esophagus and esophageal carcinoma. Published studies show that the success of spray cryotherapy to eradicate Barrett high-grade dysplasia is comparable to that for other therapies, with a favourable safety profile and high levels of patient comfort. For patients with untreatable esophageal cancer, spray cryotherapy offers a therapeutic option with the potential for complete eradication in early-stage disease and palliation in advanced cases. The mechanism of tissue injury in cryotherapy is unique, with direct cytotoxic effects and ischemic effects from vascular injury. Increased tumor cell death through induction of apoptosis and immunologic effects require further study.
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