Breast cancer is the result of cells in the breast---either milk producing lobular cells or ductal cells---developing genetic mutations that causes the affected tissue to divide very quickly. Cryo treatment is an alternative to surgery for breast cancer, as the tumor is killed within the breast rather than removed.
Identification
Cryoablation is a treatment that involves using an instrument that is chilled to very low temperatures. As a 2005 article in Breast Cancer Online explains, this treatment kills the breast cancer cells by repeatedly freezing them.
Temperature
Cryoablation is unique among ablative procedures because it does not generate any heat. Instead, the instrument freezes the surrounding tissue. The target temperature for this treatment is between -160 and -190 degrees C.
Tumor Size
Cryoablation for breast cancer works best when the tumor is relatively small. A 2002 article in "European Radiology" notes that when this treatment is used for tumors that are greater than 23 cm in diameter, the tissue may not be completely frozen.
Procedure
Before a patient can undergo cryoablative therapy for breast cancer, a biopsy of the tumor must be done. This is important for identifying the type of breast cancer and determining what other treatments would be effective. Then the patient is injected with a local anesthetic and the cryoprobe is inserted into the patient's breast tissue. The probe then performs multiple freeze/thaw cycles, destroying the tumor tissue.
Limitations
Cryoablation is not as effective at treating a form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) because it can be difficult to identify all of the cancerous cells. Cryoablation is typically guided by ultrasound. Ultrasound, however, can have trouble detecting DCIS.
