The historical and scientific basis of cryosurgery

Summary

Cryosurgery has been in existence for more than a century since the early work of Sir James Arnott with salt/ice mixtures. In some surgical circles, acceptance of cryosurgery has been slow because of failure to appreciate the destructive nature of freezing techniques using liquid nitrogen spray or nitrous oxide probes. A review of the historical and scientific basis of cryosurgery enables one to predict the adequacy of routine cryosurgical methods and the morbidity to be expected from treatment. It is important to note that the typical freeze times needed to obtain good cure rates for most skin and mucous membrane lesions amenable to cryosurgery, do not lead to connective tissue scarring.