Six years' experience with cryosurgery in the oral cavity

Ninety selected patients with a benign or malignant lesion in the oral cavity were treated by cryosurgery. A clinical study was carried out during a 6-year period to investigate the value of cryosurgery as supplemental or substitute therapy. Good results have been obtained in the treatment of small to moderate, superficially situated angiomas. Cryotherapy has also been found to be satisfactory in the treatment of papillary hyperplasia of the palate. As symptomatic treatment we employed the freezing procedure to painful erosive lichen planus. Until now, a casual treatment has not been possible because of an unknown etiology. Used as symtomatic therapy, cryosurgery may be of some use in these cases, especially to relieve pain. Good results have been obtained in the treatment of oral leukoplakia. The pathologically changed mucous membranes could be completely eliminated in most of the cases without severe scar formation or impairment to functions. Cryosurgery for palliation was employed in 11 incurable tumors. Results have been disappointing. Twenty-one localized malignant neoplasms were treated by cryosurgery to cure. The tumor was completely destroyed in 67% of the cases.