Laser ablation and cryotherapy of melanoma metastases.

Both laser therapy and cryotherapy have been used with good results in the ablation of cutaneous melanoma metastases. There is less literature evidence in support of cryotherapy. Carbon dioxide laser therapy is a simple, low cost, patient-friendly technique, effective for palliation of individual lesions. There is evidence of a more profound regional effect, with unexplained absences of recurrence at treated sites and reported complete remissions, which demands further investigation.