A treatment method that uses extreme cold, typically liquid nitrogen, to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. It is commonly used to remove warts, precancerous skin lesions, and certain tumors.
From Greek 'kryos' meaning cold or frost, combined with 'therapeia' meaning treatment. The concept of using cold for medical treatment dates back to ancient Egyptian and Greek civilizations.
Cryotherapy can reach temperatures as low as -196°C (-321°F), literally freezing cells so quickly that ice crystals form inside them and rupture the cell membranes. This same principle is used in everything from removing skin tags to preserving organs for transplant!
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