OBJECTIVE: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor that affects the skin and other organs. Several therapeutic options are available, but the optimal therapy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of cryotherapy in the treatment of KS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were evaluated. Cryotherapy was applied using liquid nitrogen. Each treatment consisted of two freeze-thaw cycles, with freezing times ranging from 15 to 40 seconds per cycle. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five lesions were treated in an average of 3.2 sessions. Complete response was observed in 19 (63%) of the 30 patients after cryotherapy treatment with no recurrence. The subjects tolerated cryotherapy well. Blistering occurred frequently, but local pain was limited. There were no secondary infections. CONCLUSION: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is safe and cost-efficient and can be readily adopted as an effective primary therapy for cutaneous KS lesions that respond slowly or show incomplete cosmetic improvement after systemic therapies.
OBJECTIVE:Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor that affects the skin and other organs. Several therapeutic options are available, but the optimal therapy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of cryotherapy in the treatment of KS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were evaluated. Cryotherapy was applied using liquid nitrogen. Each treatment consisted of two freeze-thaw cycles, with freezing times ranging from 15 to 40 seconds per cycle. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five lesions were treated in an average of 3.2 sessions. Complete response was observed in 19 (63%) of the 30 patients after cryotherapy treatment with no recurrence. The subjects tolerated cryotherapy well. Blistering occurred frequently, but local pain was limited. There were no secondary infections. CONCLUSION: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is safe and cost-efficient and can be readily adopted as an effective primary therapy for cutaneous KS lesions that respond slowly or show incomplete cosmetic improvement after systemic therapies.