Cryosurgical Curettage
A combined treatment approach using curettage followed by cryotherapy to treat superficial skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions.
Full Definition
Cryosurgical curettage is a combined treatment modality that utilizes mechanical curettage followed by cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen to treat superficial skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. The initial curettage removes the bulk of abnormal tissue, taking advantage of the different consistency between tumor and normal tissue. Subsequent cryotherapy destroys remaining abnormal cells and provides hemostasis. This technique is particularly effective for superficial basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, and select squamous cell carcinomas in appropriate anatomic locations.
Usage
Usage note: Combines the mechanical selectivity of curettage with the tissue-destructive effects of cryotherapy.
In Context
- "Cryosurgical curettage was performed for the superficial basal cell carcinoma." — Treatment note
- "The lesion was treated with curettage followed by liquid nitrogen cryotherapy." — Procedure documentation