ABSTRACT
Cryotherapy, or better said, cryosurgery is the destruction of tissue using subzero temperatures. Cryosurgery uses extremely low temperatures to induce irreversible damage to tissues. There is direct injury as a result of extra- and intracellular ice crystal formation. Healing occurs by second intention, and cryosurgery seems to be an angiogenic stimulator that promotes such healing. Cryogens are the substances used to produce low temperatures, and cryogenic liquids are liquefied gases that are kept in their liquid state at very low temperatures. The most commonly used cryogen is liquid nitrogen (LN) whose boiling point is -195.8°C. It is ideal for both benign and malignant lesions. Cryosurgical units are a fundamental part of cryosurgical equipment. Large areas of sun-damaged skin can be treated with cryopeeling. In lentigo maligna, cryosurgery can be a good option for large cases that are inoperable, and results may be enhanced by treating them with immunocryosurgery, a combination of a topical immunomodulator with cryosurgery.
