SUMMARY
Sarcomas can be treated by means of cryosurgery, which uses the introduction of thin needles under local anaesthetic with or without sedation (1). When these tumours are superficial, under the skin, they can be attacked using ultrasound scan guidance. When they on deep-seated organs like the liver, the kidneys or the lungs, CAT scan guidance is used (2). For these cases too there is specific evidence from certain studies that demonstrate that cryosurgery specifically stimulates the immune system response to these tumours (3).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sarcomas are tumours of connective tissue, and thus they can originate in subcutaneous fatty tissue, in smooth muscle tissue (found close to the viscera such as the intestine, the urethra, the renal pelvis and the bold vessels) or from striated muscular tissue, that is, what we commonly call muscles. Connective tissue serves as a supporting structure for the organs, and is thus ubiquitous in the body: accordingly sarcomas can occur throughout the whole body.
When a tumour is not malignant, that is, it tends to invade surrounding tissues as it grows, we speak of benign fibromas that have the same origin as them, but are less aggressive and usually are not fatal. All these tumours, both benign and malignant, can be treated with cryosurgery, but introducing thin needles under local anaesthetic with or without sedation (1). When these sarcomas or fibromas are located under the skin, we can attack them using ultrasound scan guidance, and when they are in deep-seated organs like the liver, kidneys or lungs, CAT guidance is used (2). For these cases too, there is specific evidence from certain studies that demonstrate that cryosurgery specifically stimulates the immune system response to these tumours (3).
