title: Monitoring during cryosurgery of bone tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryosurgery is used in orthopaedic oncology as adjuvant treatment after intralesional excision of bone tumors to induce cell death at and beyond the surgical margin. Monitoring freeze/thaw cycles during cryosurgery is beneficial in controlling a cryosurgical procedure and in preventing an unwarranted local extent of the freeze.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study of 15 cryosurgical procedures with the use of a protocolized temperature measuring system wit peroperative graphic visualization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using a liquid nitrogen spray, intralesional temperatures of -150 degrees C were achieved, which are, according to the literature, associated with cell death. Extralesional temperature measurements showed no sub-zero temperatures of surrounding important tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temperature recordings in and outside the lesion during cryosurgery in orthopaedic oncology are of importance to monitor the freeze/thaw cycles and are helpful in facilitating an effective cryosurgical procedure and in controlling the extent of the freeze, avoiding local complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Egmond
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: van Beem
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Veth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen