What are the cure rates of cryosurgery for malignant lesions?

Experienced cryosurgeons who treat many skin cancers report cure rates of 95% to 98% for primary basal cell carcinomas. These cure rates are comparable to those reported with surgery and radiation therapy. Similar rates are reported for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma with cryosurgery. Lentigo maligna has also been successfully treated with cryosurgery due to its superficial nature and the sensitivity of melanocytes to freezing. Cure rates of great than 90% have been reported with cryosurgery in the treatment of lentigo maligna. However, cryosurgery is not an appropriate therapy for invasive melanoma. The cure rates using cryosurgery, radiation therapy, or excisional surgery for aggressive or recurrent skin cancers are significantly lower than those reported for simple, primary tumors. In these cases, Mohs micrographic surgery is often recommended.

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Stevenson O, Ahmed I: Lentigo maligna: prognosis and treatment options, Am J Clin Dermatol 6:151–164, 2005.