Cryosurgery - renaissance or real progress?

The developement and improvement of the cryosurgical technique in combinati on with intraoperative ultrasonographic imaging enables reliable destructio n of liver tumors - although not free of complications - given that tried a nd tested rules of cryosurgical research are obeyed. In this respect, we ca n speak of real progress. On the basis of a 3-year testing phase with the C RYO6 cryosurgical apparatus from ERBE, a protocol for the cryosurgical tech nique for liver tumors is introduced. The spectrum of indications for cryos urgery includes the destruction of irresectable hepatic secondaries or prim ary tumors with curative intention and the freezing of insufficient or inco mplete resection margins. The preliminary results of this treatment modalit y are encouraging. However, there remains a need for further clinical resea rch to allow final judgement of the cryosurgical method.