Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy, also called cryosurgery, is a procedure where the tumor is frozen, allowed to thaw, and then frozen again. In cryotherapy, a probe is inserted through a small incision in the perineum. TRUS imaging is used to guide the probe into the prostate where it will freeze the tumor and surrounding tissues. Cryotherapy kills the cancer cells as well as some surrounding healthy cells.
Improvements in this procedure over time have allowed this technique to become a comparable alternative to other treatment options for certain types of patients.
Although cryotherapy has shown some promising results, there is limited information on the long-term effectiveness.
Advantages: Cryotherapy has a short recovery time and it may have fewer complications than prostatectomy. Unlike radiation, the procedure may be repeated again if it fails the first time. Prostatectomy and radiation can still be performed if the cryotherapy fails. Previously there were numerous complications with cryotherapy; however, they have decreased with the current techniques being used.
Disadvantages: Cryotherapy may result in incontinence or impotence.
This information is intended for US consumers only.