What is cryosurgery (also called cryoablation)?
Cryoablation is a treatment for prostate cancer that uses small probes, called cryoprobes, inserted into the prostate gland in order to destroy the prostate cancer. The probes are placed precisely into the prostate using ultrasound guidance, and temperature sensors placed into and around the prostate are used to be certain that proper freezing of the tissue is obtained. The entire prostate is frozen to -40ºC, while the urethra is protected by a special warming catheter. The procedure is performed under spinal anesthesia, so the patient has no pain during the procedure.
