cryosurgery

noun

cryo·​sur·​gery ˌkrī-ō-ˈsərj-rē How to pronounce cryosurgery (audio)
-ˈsər-jə-
: surgery in which usually diseased or abnormal tissue (as of a tumor or wart) is destroyed or removed by freezing (as by liquid nitrogen)
cryosurgeon noun
cryosurgical adjective

Examples of cryosurgery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It can be done via ice, water or air, including cryosurgery for lesions, ice packs for swelling, or through ice baths for various purposes including exercise recovery or stress reduction. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 24 July 2024 Skin tags specifically can be removed in one of three ways: snipping it off with small surgical scissors, burning it (electrocautery), or freezing it (cryosurgery), according to Dr. Jaliman and the AOCD. Madison Yauger, Health.com, 10 June 2021 Because studies of the long-term results of third-generation cryosurgery are not available, some medical professionals, including California Cancer Associates’ Anthony, do not recommend it. San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2019 Current treatments are cryosurgery or freezing, burning, cutting, or scraping the growths off, all more invasive and potentially painful options, the company said. Linda Loyd, Philly.com, 15 Dec. 2017 Today’s surgeons have everything from lasers to cryosurgery—the freezing of abnormal tissue—at their disposal. The Economist, 14 Sep. 2017 Others being developed include ultrasound therapy using soundwaves to kill the cancer cells and cryosurgery in which the cancer cells are killed by being frozen. Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

cryo- + surgery

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cryosurgery was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near cryosurgery

Cite this Entry

“Cryosurgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryosurgery. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

cryosurgery

noun
cryo·​sur·​gery ˌkrī-ō-ˈsərj-(ə-)rē How to pronounce cryosurgery (audio)
plural cryosurgeries
: surgery in which diseased or abnormal tissue (as a tumor or wart) is destroyed or removed by freezing (as by the use of liquid nitrogen)
cryosurgical adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cryosurgery

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!