title: Evaluation of effectiveness of cryotherapy on the treatment of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor that affects the skin and other organs. Several therapeutic options are available, but the optimal therapy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of cryotherapy in the treatment of KS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were evaluated. Cryotherapy was applied using liquid nitrogen. Each treatment consisted of two freeze-thaw cycles, with freezing times ranging from 15 to 40 seconds per cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-five lesions were treated in an average of 3.2 sessions. Complete response was observed in 19 (63%) of the 30 patients after cryotherapy treatment with no recurrence. The subjects tolerated cryotherapy well. Blistering occurred frequently, but local pain was limited. There were no secondary infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is safe and cost-efficient and can be readily adopted as an effective primary therapy for cutaneous KS lesions that respond slowly or show incomplete cosmetic improvement after systemic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Dermatology, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zekayi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kutlubay
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Küçüktaş
authors.forename: Gürkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yardımcı
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engin
authors.forename: Server
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serdaroğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen