Background and Context:
Cryosurgical method took a firm place in the treatment of skin cancers , including malignant ones. It is important to note its special relevance of elderly and debilitated patients . In Russian Federation a group of doctors from Tomsk developed, patented and introduced porous NiTi-basedcryoapplicators into clinical practice. The distinctive features of the mentioned ones are the simplicity and ease of use.
Aim:
Iinvestigating the clinical efficiency of porous NiTi-cryoapplicators.
Strategy/Tactics:
To compare the effectiveness of cryosurgical treatment of skin tumors using modern cryosurgical devices versus porous NiTi-cryoapplicators
Programme Process:
Our study included 36 patients with tumors of the skin. Morphologically, 32 patients had basal cell skin cancer, 4 - squamous cell skin cancer. In 25 cases the tumors were located in the head and neck , in 6 cases - on the legs and in 5 cases - on the trunk.
Control group included 42 previously treated patients and was comparable to the main group according to clinical and social characteristics. There we used modern cryosurgical device. However, this device requires a long refueling and has limited mobility due to its size and the presence of large diameter hose connected to the applicator.
The observation period for the main group patients was 2 years. The number of complications, the size of necrosis area, duration of the postoperative period did not differ between the groups. During the observation the local recurrence of the disease appeared in 1 patient of the main group and in 2 patients of the control group.
Costs and returns: -
Outcomes/What was learned:
Based on this study, we concluded that the clinical efficiency of NiTi porous cryoapplicators doesn’t inferior to modern cryosurgical devices in the treatment of malignant skin tumors. However, their simplicity of sterilization, ease of use and portability far exceed those for cryosurgical devices.