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An operation using freezing temperature (achieved by liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide) as an independent agent or in an instrument to destroy tissue.
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cryo·sur·gery .krī-ō-'sərj-(ə-)rē n, pl -ger·ies surgery in which diseased or abnormal tissue (as a tumor or wart) is destroyed or removed by freezing (as by the use of liquid nitrogen)
cryo·sur·gi·cal -ji-kəl adj
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n.
the use of extreme cold in a localized part of the body to freeze and destroy unwanted tissues. Cryosurgery is usually undertaken with an instrument called a cryoprobe, which has a fine tip cooled by allowing carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide gas to expand within it. Cryosurgery is commonly used for the treatment of retinal detachment (see cryoretinopexy), the destruction of certain bone tumours, and the obliteration of skin blemishes.
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cryo·sur·gery (kri″o-surґjər-e) [cryo- + surgery] destruction of tissue by the application of extreme cold, used in some forms of intracranial and cutaneous surgery.Medical dictionary. 2011.