CRYOTHERAPY
Safe, efficient, and effective.
At the Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic, we offer cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen to treat a variety of skin lesions. For appropriately selected conditions, this method is well-established and can be highly effective.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a method used to manage and treat certain benign, precancerous, and cancerous skin lesions. It involves applying liquid nitrogen to rapidly freeze the targeted area, lowering the skin’s temperature to a point where abnormal tissue is destroyed.
Cryotherapy may be considered for conditions such as:
- Superficial basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease)
- Actinic keratosis
How cryotherapy works.
The Equipment
We use the spray method, which is the most common approach for cryotherapy in skin cancer care. A 32-oz Dewar holds the liquid nitrogen, and a handheld sprayer delivers a controlled, targeted application. This method is well-suited for lesions approximately 3-5 mm in depth.
Active Monitoring
Careful assessment is essential throughout treatment and healing. During freezing, an “ice halo” forms around the lesion, and the width of this halo helps indicate the depth of the freeze. Your clinician will monitor the process to ensure treatment and recovery progress safely.
Our Techniques
With your consent, smaller lesions are usually treated using a direct centralized spray or a spiral spray that starts at the centre and moves outward. Cancerous lesions typically require a 5 mm freeze halo, while precancerous lesions use a 2 mm halo.
For larger areas, a paintbrush-style technique is used, moving the sprayer back and forth over the lesion. As a general guide, a 3 mm lesion may require about one minute of spray time.
The benefits of cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy is a well-established treatment option for certain cancerous and precancerous skin lesions. It is quick, minimally invasive, and doesn’t require stitches or lengthy recovery time. At the Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic, clinicians use current techniques and careful assessment to support safe treatment and healing.
See how cryotherapy works in this short video.
Explore more treatment options.
At the Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic, a range of treatment approaches are available. Different treatment methods are used depending on the type of lesion and clinical needs. Our team can walk you through the available options and help you understand what may be recommended.