Abstract
Cryosurgery dates back to the 19th century, with the description of the benefits of
local application of cooling for conditions such as pain control. Once commercial
liquefied gases became available, more progress was made in the use of cryotherapy
for localized lesions. As understanding of disease response to freezing increased,
safer techniques for performing freezing procedures helped prepare its clinical application
in different clinical situations, such as prostate disease and bronchial cancers.
Cryosurgical techniques are less invasive and have lower morbidity compared with surgical
resection. However, the use of cryosurgery has been limited by a lack of good understanding
of the underlying mechanisms of tissue destruction. To apply cryosurgery clinically,
and to extend its use, it is important to understand the mechanisms of freeze injury
on cells, and to control the thermal parameters.
