cryosurgery

[krahy-oh-sur-juh-ree]

noun

1. the use of extreme cold to destroy tissue for therapeutic purposes.

cryosurgery

/ ˌkraɪəʊˈsɜːdʒərɪ /

noun

1. surgery involving the local destruction of tissues by quick freezing for therapeutic benefit

Other Word Forms

• cryosurgical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryosurgery¹

First recorded in 1960–65; cryo- + surgery

Example Sentences

On the day a reporter observed him, Mr. Fitzmaurice moved quickly through the visits, many of which entailed procedures like biopsies and cryosurgery.

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McNulty underwent cryosurgery, a procedure that freezes the retina back to the eye.

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The 85-year-old New Yorker had cryosurgery and continues to follow Dr. Katz’s recommendations, so far with no evidence of cancer recurrence or spread.

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Other basic treatment options include cryosurgery, or using liquid nitrogen to "freeze" the skin off, a simple surgical excision, laser treatments, and alternately scraping and burning the tumor.

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