The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute was showcased on the American Health Front Show, seen on WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC). Karmanos' Peter Littrup, M.D., director, Image Guided Therapy Program and professor of Radiology, Urology and Radiation Oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine, explained and demonstrated the process of Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extremely cold temperatures to destroy diseased tissue. It is often preferred over other techniques and has a faster recovery time.
Click here to see the Karmanos Cancer Institute segment.
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, also called cryosurgery, cryoablation or targeted cryoablation therapy, refers to the application of extreme cold to destroy diseased tissue, including cancer cells. Cryotherapy is used to destroy skin tumors, precancerous skin moles, nodules, skin tags or unsightly freckles. With the improvement of imaging techniques and the development of devices to better control extreme temperatures, Karmanos Cancer Center physicians use cryotherapy as a treatment for patients with the following cancer types:
Researchers at Karmanos are also evaluating its usefulness in freezing and shrinking benign breast lumps.
What does the equipment look like?
For external masses, liquid nitrogen is applied directly with a cotton swab or spray device. For internal tumors, cryotherapy is carried out by using a cryoprobe, a thin wand-like device with a handle or trigger or a series of small needles, attached via tubing to a source of nitrogen or argon, which super-cools the probe tip. Most cryotherapy units use argon gas and are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for general urologic and oncologic uses. The cryoprobe is placed in the proper position using imaging guidance, and as internal tissue is being frozen, the physician avoids damaging healthy tissue by viewing the movement of the probe on ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRI) images transmitted to a monitor similar to a television screen.
How does the procedure work?
Living tissue, healthy or diseased, cannot withstand extremely cold conditions. Once the cells are destroyed, components of the immune system clear out the dead tissue.
Patients undergoing cryosurgery usually experience minor-to-moderate localized pain and redness, which can be alleviated by aspirin or ibuprofen and application of topical steroid cream. Blisters may form, but these usually scab over and peel away.
What are the benefits vs. risks?
Cryosurgery is a minimally invasive procedure, and is often preferred to more traditional kinds of surgery because of its minimal pain, scarring, and cost; however, as with any medical treatment, there are risks involved, primarily that of damage to nearby healthy tissue. Damage to nerve tissue is of particular concern.
