title: Histologic cure of basal cell carcinoma treated with cryosurgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryosurgery is a method of treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Despite numerous studies reporting excellent cure rates with cryosurgery, there are no studies in the literature that have shown a histologic cure of BCC.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to show histologically that cryosurgery is an effective cure for well-defined, noduloulcerative BCC of the trunk and upper extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and proximal upper extremities less than 1 cm were treated with single freeze-thaw cryosurgery using a cryoprobe apparatus with liquid nitrogen. A thermocouple needle measured temperature, with the goal to reach between -50 degrees C and -60 degrees C. One to 2 months later, the site was excised and examined with horizontal step sections throughout the entire tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No tissue specimens had histologic evidence of tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single freeze-thaw cryosurgery provides a histologic cure of well-defined, noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and extremities less than or equal to 1 cm.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Theodore J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome