CRYOSURGERY AT GUTHRIE

Cryosurgery is a recent advance in the surgical treatment of various cancers, including liver cancer, prostate cancer and kidney cancer. Cryo, from a Greek word meaning "icy cold," means to destroy a tumor by freezing it. While some people with cancer benefit from traditional surgery to remove a tumor or from chemotherapy, other people have tumors that respond better to the cryosurgery technique.

Cryosurgery is performed by inserting a special probe directly into the tumor. The extreme cold that is the hallmark of cryosurgery is created by circulating argon gas through this insulated probe. The rapid expansion of the gas causes extreme cooling at the tip of the probe (the tip temperature measures in at a frosty –187.5 degrees Celsius), which draws the heat out of the tumor and kills the cancer cells.

Cryosurgery can be performed in a minimally invasive fashion without a full open incision, which reduces the chances of complications, decreases recovery time, and increases patient comfort. Cryosurgery has been available at Guthrie since October 1999, and at this time, Guthrie is the only medical center in the region to offer such an advanced treatment for cancer.

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Liver Cancer

Kidney Cancer