[Cryosurgical treatment of tumors].

In 84 out of 164 carcinoma patients, admitted from June 1974 to September 1975 -- altogether 98 cryosurgical operations were performed according to the stage of the tumors. This was done as additional treatment to radical operation, as monotherapy, as additional treatment to palliative resection, or as a mono-palliative-therapy. After a discussion of the method, and a critical evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages (including new application areas) cryosurgery is proved to be superior to the conventional method in the destruction of tumor, e.g. in the liver, pancreas, roof of mesentery, and iliac region. The same is true when it is used as a palliative treatment in processes where access is difficult. On the other hand it seems that tumor-freezing shortens the life of patients, weakened through inanition.