What is cryoablation?

Cryoablation is a type of treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy cells or tissue. It is often used to kill cancerous cells as it is safer and less invasive than other types of surgery. In this procedure, thin, hollow needles are used to inject freezing cold gas to the required area to freeze and kill the tissue.

Are there different types of cryoablation?

There are three types of cryoablation procedures, according to the location of the tissue needing to be destroyed:

• topical cryoablation: used to remove warts, precancerous moles and other types of skin issues
• percutaneous cryoablation: performed within the body through a small hole that has been made for this purpose
• surgical cryoablation: also performed inside the body but through a larger incision.

Topical cryoablation is a relatively short procedure requiring little to no recovery time. Percutaneous and surgical cryoablation, however, require surgical incisions, which means the procedure will be done in a hospital, perhaps under anaesthesia. The recovery period for these types of surgery varies depending on the location of the treatment area.

What is cryoablation used to treat?

Cryoablation is used as a treatment for a range of conditions. Topical cryoablation is regularly performed in clinics to destroy skin abnormalities such as warts and precancerous moles. This type of cryoablation is also used to destroy pre-cancerous cells in the cervix through the vagina.

To destroy cancerous cells within the body, percutaneous or surgical cryoablation may be used when other types of surgery are not possible. This is often the case when treating cancer of the bone, eye, kidney, liver, lung or prostate. Percutaneous or surgical cryoablation may also be used to treat arrhythmia by freezing and consequently disabling cells of the heart which cause the irregular heart rhythm.

How does cryoablation work?

During the procedure, a slim, hollow, needle-like applicator called a cryoprobe is used to apply to treatment. The cryoprobe applies gases such as liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide and compressed argon gas at a temperature of between minus 30 and minus 75 degrees centigrade. The surgeon touches the tissue that needs to be destroyed with the intensely cold tip of the applicator. This freezing may last for seconds or a few minutes and may also be repeated in the session, depending on how much time is necessary to freeze the cells.

Is cryoablation safe?

Cryoablation offers a much safer, faster and less painful method of tissue removal than open surgery. This is particularly true of topical cryoablation as no incisions are needed to be made. As such, there is a lower risk of infection, less damage to surrounding tissue and a lower chance of scarring. Percutaneous and surgical cryoablation offer slightly more risk than the topical procedure but far less risk than other types of surgery to remove tumours. They are minimally invasive methods and as such have faster recovery times and lower post operation infection rates than alternative surgery options.

What type of doctor performs cryoablation?

A range of doctors, such as cardiologists, surgical oncologists and dermatologists, use cryoablation as it has many applications.