Bronchoscopic cryotherapy: Preliminary experience

Our preliminary experience with the bronchoscopic application of cryotherap y using rapid decompression of liquid nitrous oxide as cooling agent is rep orted. Seventeen applications through rigid bronchoscopy in twelve patients were performed. A single cryotherapy session was successful in the debulki ng of obstructive malignant lesions of the central airways in five patients (four non-small cell carcinoma, one renal cell cancer metastasis), and in the treatment of a capillary haemangioma tone patient). Two sessions were s uccessful in the treatment of a metastatic melanoma tone patient) and benig n granulation tissue tone patient). Cryotherapy was also successful in the treatment of early bronchial cancer (carcinoma in situ) in four patients, requiring repetitive sessions in two. There were no complications or side-effects. These preliminary findings confirm the safety and efficacy of bronchoscopic cryotherapy in a variety of airway lesions.