(krī‵ō-sĕr'jĕ-rē )

[cryo- + surgery]

The use of extremely cold probes to destroy lesions, including cancerous or infected tissues. Cryosurgery is a minimally invasive procedure that has been used to treat metastatic liver cancer, prostate cancer, sun-induced skin cancers, warts, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and even abnormal conduction pathways in the heart or nervous system. Liquid nitrogen is often the agent used.