Cryotherapy in Chest Medicine

The aim of this book is to inform physicians about the uti- lisation of cryotherapy in pulmonology. The subject of this work is thus an extensive study of this therapeutic procedu- re in the speciality. It begins with the history of the technique and presents all data that allow for an understan- ding of the process of cryodestruction with its therapeuti- cal applications in pulmonology and thoracic surgery, i.e. theoretical bases, materials, methods, indications, results, comparison to and association with other techniques, studies inprogress and research modalities. The principal characte- ristic of this book is that it is the first one presenting this new method; the reader willfind in it all the informa- tion necessary for the best understanding and use of this technique in current medical practice. However, some data presented, still part of ongoing research or under pro- spective study, leave the way open to research workers and to all those who wish to supercede the simple therapeutic result that remains the primary concern.
Itis thus an enti- rely new approach to treatment of benign or malignant endo- bronchial lesions that is not well understood and sometimes unjustly criticized. The reader will discover a technique which is based on solid fundamentally documented grounds. He will be inclined to use it; if he already does so, he will have at his disposal a codified reference book and will be able to strengthen his current knowledge.