
<b>"The technological advances which have caused renewed interest in cryosurgery are the development of intraoperative ultrasound to monitor the therapeutic process and the development of new cryosurgical equipment designed to use supercooled liquid nitrogen.</b> The thin, highly efficient probes, available in several sizes, can be placed in diseased sites via endoscopy or percutaneously in minimally invasive procedures. The manner of use is to place the probe in the desired location in the diseased tissue with ultrasound guidance. If required by the size or location of the tumor, as many as five probes can be inserted and cooled to -195 degrees C simultaneously. The process of freezing is monitored by ultrasound which displays a hypoechoic (dark) image when the tissue if frozen. Rapid freezing, slow thawing, and repetition of the freeze/thaw cycle are standard features of technique." [1]

"The cases selected for cryosurgery are generally those for which no conventional treatment is possible.  ... Diverse tumors [in sites] such as the brain, bronchus, bone, pancreas, kidney, and uterus, have ... been treated in small numbers by cryosurgery. Judging from this experience, further expansion in the use of cryosurgical techniques seems certain." [1] 

1. Cryobiology 1997 Jun;34(4):373-84
<b>Minimally invasive cryosurgery--technological advances. </b>
Baust J, Gage AA, Ma H, Zhang CM. 
Center for Cryobiological Research State University of New York, Binghamton 13902, USA. 
&&url PMID: 9200822 

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compiled/written by doctordee
with thanks to Lynette and Laura 
June 2002 
updated December 2003
