Cryosurgery in animals, also known as cryotherapy, is a medical procedure that uses extremely cold temperatures to treat various skin lesions and certain soft tissue conditions. It’s a minimally invasive technique that can be employed in veterinary medicine to remove or treat abnormal tissue, including tumors, warts, cysts, and precancerous lesions.
Cryosurgery utilizes a cold source to achieve extremely low temperatures, usually between -50°C and -196°C (-58°F to -321°F). Liquid nitrogen is commonly used because of its accessibility and effectiveness. The cold substance is applied directly to the target tissue using a specialized instrument called a cryoprobe or cryoapplicator. The extreme cold causes the water within the cells to freeze, leading to cellular damage and destruction of the abnormal tissue. In some cases, the freezing process may be followed by a thawing phase. This cycle of freezing and thawing helps ensure thorough tissue destruction and may be repeated multiple times during the procedure.
Cryosurgery can effectively remove warts and papillomas that commonly affect dogs and cats. Sebaceous cysts, epidermal cysts, and other types of cysts can be treated or removed using cryosurgery. Certain precancerous skin lesions, such as actinic keratosis, can be treated with cryotherapy to prevent them from progressing to cancer.
Cryosurgery is a minimally invasive technique, meaning it requires small incisions or no incisions at all. This reduces the risk of complications and promotes faster healing. Cryosurgery allows for precise targeting of abnormal tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In many cases, cryosurgery can be performed with local anaesthesia or sedation, reducing the risks associated with general anaesthesia. Cryosurgery is generally a quick procedure, and animals can often return to normal activities relatively soon after the treatment.
After cryosurgery, the treated area may form a scab, which will eventually fall off as the tissue heals.
Cryosurgery may not be suitable for all types of tumors or lesions. The choice of treatment depends on the specific condition, its location, and the overall health of the animal.