Cryosurgery

The use of temperatures below freezing to destroy tissue, or the use of cold during surgery to produce adhesion between an instrument and body tissue. Cryosurgery causes only minimal scarring and is used to treat cancerous tumours in sites where heavy scarring can block vital openings such as in the cervix, the liver, and the intestines. It may be used in eye operations, for example in cataract surgery and treatment for retinal detachment. It is also commonly used for removing warts, skin tags, some birthmarks, some skin cancers, and to treat haemorrhoids.