[Cryosurgery in malignant tumors of the skin]

Cryosurgery is being increasingly considered as the treatment of choice for a number of malignant skin tumors. Recent advances made in the field of cryobiology have broadened our knowledge of the practical aspects of cryosurgery. Tissue damage from freezing depends on both, freeze and thaw rates. In treating skin cancers, a rapid freezing and a slow thawing should be used. Repeating the freeze-thaw cycle increases the cold injury. By measuring the lateral spread of freeze on the surface, we can estimate the depth of the frozen tissue. The depth of the tissue ice ball approximates the lateral spread of freeze. Liquid nitrogen is the cryogen of choice for dermatological cryosurgery of malignant skin lesions. Cryosurgery has proven to be a successful form of treatment for basal cell carcinoma, small squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions of the skin. The overall cure rates obtained by cryosurgery compare favorably with those obtained by other treatment modalities. Cryosurgery is a simple, safe and effective method of treatment and has a definite place in the management of many malignant tumors of the skin.