Expert consensus on cryosurgery therapy of mucosal melanoma on head and neck

Abstract

Cryoablation therapy for tumors has a long history of clinical application. Its anti-tumor mechanisms and histopathological changes have been well established, with extensive clinical practice demonstrating its safety and efficacy, theoretically making it an ideal modality for tumor treatment. Historically constrained by limitations in cryogenic media and freezing equipment, its therapeutic effectiveness and clinical adoption were significantly restricted. The emergence of new-generation cryoablation systems represented by Argon-Helium cryosurgical systems has achieved substantial advancements in refrigeration efficiency, ablation range precision, and temperature monitoring accuracy, thereby greatly promoting the widespread adoption of tumor cryoablation technology. This consensus systematically summarizes the mechanisms of cryoablation technology, indications for cryotherapy in head and neck mucosal melanoma, standardized clinical treatment protocols, management of adverse reactions, and related principles. It aims to provide authoritative references for standardizing cryoablation therapy in the treatment of head and neck mucosal melanoma.