How cryosurgery is performed

A stream of liquid nitrogen is aimed at the tumor using a cryosurgery gun, freezing the tissue. The target temperature is ­20° C (­4°F). After the tissue thaws, a second and sometimes third freeze will be performed. For with more aggressive tumors, treatment may need to be repeated in 2 weeks.  

Acute

• Bleeding
• Blister formation
• Edema (fluid build up in tissue)
• Discomfort

• Scar tissue
• Infection (rare)

• Hair loss
• Hypopigmentation (loss of normal skin color)

What to expect after cryosurgery

Immediately after freezing, your pet may experience mild discomfort for up to 24 hours. The frozen tissue will swell and turn black. There may be an odor due to tissue death, there also may be oozing of a small amount of blood and/or clear fluid. After several days, a dry scab should form. The scab will eventually slough off, exposing a fresh layer of healthy tissue. Keep your pet from licking, scratching or rubbing the area. A recheck is recommended 2 weeks after the treatment.

Care after cryosurgery

• An e-collar may be needed to prevent your pet from irritating the site.
• Hydrocortisone cream or triple antibiotic ointment can be applied, but is usually not needed.
• Oral prednisone, a steroid, may help in the first 24 hours to decrease swelling and discomfort.

Advantages of cryosurgery

Speed

• Most lesions can be frozen faster than they can be surgically removed.

Expense

• Cryosurgery is usually less expensive than surgery.

Safety

• General anesthesia is usually avoided or only needed for a short amount of time.
  

Disadvantages of cryosurgery

Aesthetics

• During the healing process, the site may look worse before it looks better.

Lack of surgical margins

• When tumors are surgically removed and sent to the lab, pathologists can determine if the entire tumor was removed. With cryosurgery, surgical margins cannot be determined. Also if the entire tumor is not frozen to ­20° C (­4°F), it is likely it will regrow.      

For further information on cryosurgery visit:

National Cancer Institute

American Academy of Family Physicians