Cryosurgery Clinical Applications in Otorhinolaryngology

Cryosurgery is a surgical technique that employs freezing to destroy undesirable tissue. It has recently incorporated new imaging technologies and a fast-growing minimally invasive surgical technique. Freezing reduces tumor bulk, lessens drainage & odor, controls pain, and relieves bleeding and obstruction in a large variety of neoplasms. The cryoprocedures can be repeated any number of times until the desired goal is achieved. All age group of patients are treated very effectively with minimum time than other conventional methods of therapy. It is also very cost effective as compared to laser or radiofrequency treatment. It has transformed the management of certain pathologies like benign and early malignant lesions of oral cavity, oropharynx, laryngopharynx and larynx with better disease-free period and least functional disabilities postoperatively; and all these are discussed in this book with their images. A historical review of the field of cryosurgery is also presented, showing how technological advancements have affected the development of cryosurgery in the field of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. The quality of life is much better after cryosurgery than mutilating surgery of tumors and this is more important psychologically for patients.